Hi.  I'm new to the FML.  Am enjoying it very much.
 
I am the proud parent of 2 wonderful ferrets.  Mandy is an albino female,
about 2 1/2 years old.  She is very smart and knows how to manipulate the
humans for treats.  Bandit, the male sable, is almost 1 year old.  He's the
handsomest ferret in the country.  Everyone who meets him remarks on his
lovely coat and marvelous disposition.  Our family has been together for
about 8 months.
 
FERRETS IN MIRRORS
 
When we first brought Bandit home, he was about 4 months old.  Our bedroom
has full-length mirrors on the sliding closet doors.  The first time Bandit
came tearing into our bedroom, he saw that good-looking fun-loving fellow in
the mirror--and he obviously wanted to play.  Before the humans could react,
he ran/danced full-speed into the mirror.  Luckily he didn't hurt himself.
Dad, the kindly human, put some masking tape along the bottom of the mirror
to break-up the image.  After a couple weeks, we removed the tape.  Bandit
figured-out the guy in the mirror is not real.  Mandy never had any interest
in the image in the mirror.
 
I have no idea if they recognize themselves in the mirror, but they
certainly can see what's in the mirror.
 
FUN SEWING PROJECT
 
I've been sewing Snooze Sacks (hope that isn't a copyrighted name) for my
babies and they just LOVE them, especially in the cold evenings.  The inside
of the bag is fake fur, the outside flannel.  I make the bags 3-D (10 x 14 x
4 inches).
 
1) Cut 2 10-inch by 14-inch squares in flannel and 2 10x15 inch pieces in
   fake fur. (Making the fur slightly longer will give you a fur lip on the
   opening of the bag)
2) Round 2 ends of each square to form a "U".  The top of the "U" will be
   the opening to the sack.
3) Cut a strip of fabric 4 1/2 inches wide, long enough to join the 2 "U"
   pieces together with the strip.  You'll be leaving the top of the "U"
   open, only the sides of the "U" will be joined by this strip.  (Again
   you'll need 1 strip in flannel, the other in fake fur) Seam allowance is
   1/2 to 5/8 inch.
4) Sew the strip to the 2 "U" shaped pieces of fabric.  You'll end up with
   2 bags, one in flannel, one in fake fur.
5) At this point, have the bags inside-out.  Sew the 2 bags together at the
   top, "right side" to "right side" (sewing term for all you professionals).
   Be sure to leave a gap large enough to allow you to turn both sacks
   right-side-out after sewing the seam that joins the 2 bags together.
6) Turn the sacks right-side-out, using the gap you left in step 5.
7) Sew-up the gap.
 
I hope these instructions weren't too confusing.  I've been having fun with
plaids.  I hope to get into single-colored flannel and will attempt
stencling--if the stencil paint is non-toxic.  Another sewing project in the
queue--a door draft-stopper that looks like a ferret or has ferrets on it.
Does anyone have a pattern for something like this, or will I have to
develop my own?
 
     SSS
[Posted in FML issue 1461]