FRANCIS'S BLOG 11/14/2026
A chicken video 🐔, and carrots 🥕!
“Good morning! I’m so happy to greet you! I see somebody’s getting carrots after breakfast:”
Thanks for welcoming our friends, Tyrus.
“Carrots are ‘edible sunshine,’ Francis!”
“‘Edible sunshine?’ That was ‘pure corn,’ RC.”
“These aren’t corn, Stormy, they’re carrots!”
“I know, Rose, you misheard.”
Anyway, let’s watch the chickens finish off the ducks’ worms:
Sounds like someone’s running the hose. 🐴
Here’s our news from Iris! ❤️
Good morning! No scary hail today, just sun and clouds, here and there:
Speaking of sun, here I am last night, back-lit by a glorious sunset:
It’s a little nippy, barely 40. We expect ice on the water tomorrow.
Anyway, here’s our beloved Iris, admiring the sunset from Beecher, IL, near Chicago:
We’re always happy when we hear she’s doing well. We miss her, but she’s happier with her Mommy Mara, so that makes us happier, too! ❤️
Last Monday, she and Mara went on a trail ride:
That looks like a good, safe road to enjoy a trot. 🐎
Horrible Hail (and a duck video)! 🐴
Good morning! I’m only smiling because you’re here (also, we have some pictures of our Iris❤️❤️❤️, but we’ll save those for tomorrow):
We had a morning of heavy hail! This picture may not look like much. . .
But look at this picture Ann took of the road! It looks like snow!
Here’s a video of Patrick and Aoife weathering the storm (more after video). . .
Let’s zoom in on the above video. Can you see how still Patrick stands, and how he’s pointing his head and body upward? All ducks stand like that in a storm. . .
It helps the water run off their water-resistant outer feathers, and keeps the dry, fluffy feathers next to their bodies dry! 🐴
Two video “Tick-Tocks” 🐎
Good morning! RC here. Glad to see you! Ann came early to feed us, so I’m letting you know everyone’s already out in the far pasture:
I’m afraid all I have to show you are two videos Ann used for “Tick-Tock” (I’m not sure what that is).
We hope you find them cute:
I don’t know where I am in any of these things. . .
But I’m not going to let it bother me. 🐎
3 clear, crisp days in a row; a Tom Turken video; and ME! 🐴
“Good morning! What a lovely Monday!”
“Somebody has broken into my stall. I’m sure you can imagine who.”
Oh, fine, fine, Stormy. . .
I’m leaving:
I don’t think it’s advisible to lay eggs in the manure cart, girls:
Oh. . .
I guess the two most popular places are occupied:
Anyway. . .
We haven’t heard from you in a while, Tom. What do have to say to us this morning?
Good morning, right back at you, Tom! 🐓
A cute little video of me (what else could a video of me be, but cute)! 🐴
Good morning! I didn’t see you come in!
Our Mary ❤️ and Mara ❤️ are here, along with a lot of doggies!
Ann brought some more zucchinis. . .
They won’t last! 🐔
Finally, here I am heading in from the far pasture:
I don’t know what spooked me around Dukie (maybe it was her collar rattling). Everyone knows that Dukie and I are the dearest of friends. ❤️
Wonderful visitors! 🐴
“Good morning! It’s our first frost of the season.”
“There’s a skim of ice on the duck water.”
“Wake up, Tux! We have guests!”
We have visitors, Betty? Dukie and I will be right there!
My new friend, Maureen, and I just love each other:
In fact, we all love her and her lovely family:
Here are Ann and Maureen, feeding the chickens raspberries (I bet the chickens love Maureen, now, too):
What a surprise to warm our hearts on an otherwise chilly day. ❤️
Just-in-time delivery! 🐎
“Peek-a-boo! Good morning to our dear friends!”
You did a good job saying Good morning, Patches, now hop out and get some breakfast!
It’s chilly, only 39, but not a cloud in the sky!
What’s this?
“That must be my special “senior” food, Francis. I ran out last night.” 
Watch the gate, Ann:
Anyway, we’re celebrating this beautiful morning with peppermint hearts:
Not that we need a reason—Oh no!—this is a rotten picture of lovely me. . .
I look like a fish! 🐴
April showers in November 🐴
UnGood morning! You’re very muddy, Stormy.
“I’m only half-muddy, Francis. . .”
“My other half is nice and clean!”
“Ann will brush me out when she’s done with the other chores.”
Anyway, the fashionable nesting place among the younger hens (this week, at least) is the blue bucket:
The new girls have been laying 6-8 eggs a day. 🥚
Slow news Wednesday with carrots and raspberries (video)
Good morning! A carrot for me? Why, of course, but don’t forget everyone else!
There’s not a lot going on. . .
Just another day of grazing. But we’re happy the chickens got a treat. . .
Raspberries! Fresh off the bush! 🐴
The chickens were nestled, all snug in the duck garage 🐔
“Good morning! We're so happy we chickens finally get to greet you. It’s raining, so we’re hanging out in the duck garage.”
You did a good job welcoming our friends, which ever one of you said that!
Goodness, Aoife, you’re soaked! I thought duck feathers were fairly waterproof. It has to be coming down in buckets!
“Not really, Francis. I just hopped out of the tub.” 🦆
A chicken crime 🐔 (and a very special video) 🐴!
Ok, red hen, why did you cross the road?
And don’t tell me, “To get to the other side.” This is no laughing matter. We were lucky you pulled this stunt on a Sunday, when there were fewer cars on the road.
Get back to your own yard now! You’re risking not only your own life. . .
. . .you’re putting whoever rescues you in mortal danger, too! 😿
Anyway, that was last night, and this is Monday morning—so, “Good morning!”
Now, what about that “very special video?”
It’s me, showing you my smile in realtime!
Happy to see you! ❤️
Snap, Crackle, Kit ‘n’ Kaboodle! 😺 (2 videos)
“Good morning! It looks like I’m about to be kicked out of RC’s stall. Don’t forget Francis, cat-cops, he’s in here, too.”
Right behind you, tattletale—sorry—I mean, Stormy. Good morning, everyone.
Anyway, let’s watch two videos, made fresh this morning, just for YOU! ❤️
First, we have Ferdinand and Pascal waddling up to the mealworms. Move over, Chin:
And, before the canned paté, the kitties are crunching away at the dry food:
After the paté, things are bound to get quieter. 🐴