>A WINDOW! We never, ever open windows in this house. No matter >how nice it is, we do not open windows. Why? BECAUSE THE FERRETS >MIGHT PUSH OUT THE SCREEN AND ESCAPE! He knows this. Don't despair; there is a solution to make everyone happy. If you go to a hardware or home repair store ask them about the -- shoot I wish I knew the name for the thing but you'll have to use this description -- things that you slip into the open space of the window and then shut the window on them to hold them in place. Two sides slide along each other to make them as wide as needed. Some have metal vents in them so that a person can put them in a window and get fresh air even when it's raining, or a woman can put them in , then pull down blinds to the top edge and still have privacy from folks who may peep. Others have metal screens in them. They are very affordable to buy. Mostly in the Winter we use heat, in the Summer we use a/c -- especially important here for our ferrets, but in Spring and Autumn we use these. (We do use them on moderate days in the Winter and Summer, but obviously since we are not wealthy enough to heat or cool the great outdoors we are normally closed up tight in Winter and Summer to keep costs affordable and not waste energy/fuel.) [Posted in FML issue 3767]