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]