A walk along the soybeans (video) 🌱
“Good morning, everyone. It just stopped raining.”
I know, little Chin. I’m holding a cat-cop’s raincoat:
I must admit, this Rhode Island Red is quite pretty:
All the spring chickens are getting in their combs and wattles:
Before you know it, they’ll be laying eggs. 🥚
Finally, let’s take a hike with Dukie:
Our friend Farmer Rich has planted field after field of soybeans. They’re used in everything—from chicken food 🐔, to horse food 🐎, to cat food! 😺
How about two “Release the Ducks” videos for a change!? 🦆
We’re all out, waiting to wish you “Good morning!” (and hurry up breakfast before it rains):
In the “cat department,” Security Chief Onslow is making sure their breakfast is coming, too:
Oh! Let’s check in with our Sophie and Anya in Mason City: They’re watching a horse show our Mary took them to yesterday ❤️! 
They’re waiting, so bring on the horsies!
Now let’s check in with the ducks! First, we put Severus and Sirius, our rouens (rouens are half-pekin/half mallard); then, Patrick and Aoife, our Welsh Harlequins, in the fenced backyard (because they can’t keep off the street):
Now, we let Paschal and Ferdinand out to wander where they please, because they never go near the road!
Don’t drag your webbed feet, ducks. The cat-cops want to get in those pens and clean them out—you spent all night splashing your water! 🐴
It’s a poopie-free morning (and 2 chicken videos) 🐴
Good morning! It was just 58 this morning, and only 71 at 12 noon!
I wish it was too cool for flies, but you know it’ll take a frost for that:
Dad is joining us for breakfast. You’re a new dad, Dad. The cat-cops saw at least one baby last night:
Last night was so cool we spent all night outside. How can you tell?
No poopies anywhere!
Just some chickens. 🐔
Speaking of chickens, I know you’ve seen “release the hens” videos before. But these 2 videos are from the perspective of inside the coops.
First the little coop:
Then the big coop:
The chickens told me, “Francis, make sure our friends know that we poultry love them, too!” 🐔❤️🐓❤️
We think Eva became a mother (again) 🐴
Good morning! Glad to see you (although you look a little spotty through the fly mask):
Yesterday morning, this was Tyrus in the living room:
And this morning, this is Tyrus on the mud room steps:
Are you ever right side up, Tyrus? 😺
Anyway, here’s a picture of Eva from September 1. It certainly looks like Eva was carrying extra passengers:
And here she was this morning:
When we see her latest batch of babies, we’ll let you know! 😺
Good timing, Rose 🐎
“Good morning everyone.”
Good morning, Toadie. You’re looking quite decorative today:
“Thank you, Francis. I was delighted to greet our friends!”
No problem, Toadie. Anyway, last night, Rose lost her right front shoe:
Lucky for her, this morning Travis is scheduled to do our hooves. Here I am waiting outside the gate to welcome him:
He put it right back on. It just needed some new nails:
Finally, the recent rain has left our creek babbling, and its banks lush with flowers:
And the flowers busy with bees!
Buzz-buzz! 🐝
A day to feel humbled and blessed 🐴
If you recall, yesterday I asked you what could be happening in his picture:
The answer is, I was receiving a Greek Orthodox blessing:
This past Monday, we were visited by His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago (Metropolitans are high-ranking bishops in the church), accompanied by our own parish priest, Father Peter. We received his blessing with a sprinkling of holy water (from sprigs of parsley):
How honored Ann and her family were to have such visitors:
Everyone with hooves instinctively knew to be good:
The cats were a little skittish. . .
But they were blessed, too. 😺
Finally, here’s a brief video of His Eminence with Stormy and Rose:
What a day to remember. ❤️
Hopefully, I will be able to tell you of a truly “blessed event” tomorrow. It happened this past Monday (and has nothing to do with Eva having kittens) 🐴!
Good morning! Stormy has a smile for YOU!
“Indeed I do, Francis!” ❤️
According to our rain gauges, whether they be the manure cart. . .
Or the puddle by far pasture, we had over 2 inches:
Finally, what on earth is happening in this picture?It’s part of the wonderful story I’ll do my best to share with you in the next post! 🐴
Leaping buzzards video 🐔
Good morning! I’m standing at attention, ready for food!
Tyrus is licking the egg off his nose:
Bolt is about to taste the mealworms on the water:
The manure cart is growing plants:
And the buff orpingtons are jumping for raspberries:
Sweet and juicy! 🐴
Snap, crackle, cats! 😺 (video)
Good morning! I’m not sure I need this fan this morning, it’s only in the 60’s. I think I’m just used to the comforting “white noise:”
It’ll still get over 80 today—but we’ll take it!
Anyway, come out of the hay barn and down to breakfast, Dad. . .
Two of your kittens, Tux and Charlie, don’t want to wait:
Your “I’m shy” act is geting a little tiresome, Dad:
That’s a little better:
Finally, before the canned food gets put out, the kitties have nothing to do but crunch the “hard stuff.”
The sound of good teeth! 🐴
Time to plug in the electric fence (2 videos) 🐴
Good morning! Eight kitties know it’ll be a good day to line up for breakfast:
They’ll have shiny clean pans:
And a freshly-opened bag of food:
Anyway, here I am, doing what a usually do every morning:
And Stormy is getting close to taking down some wires:
Hey, cat-cops, if you don’t get that fence plugged in soon, you’ll be chasing around 3 horses (and probably me!). 🐴
Can’t find what you’re looking for? All Francis’s blog posts are in the Archives! 😸