Well, spring has sprung indeed. Here in southern Germany, the weather has indeed gone springlike. Today, we loaded in the van with 3 humans and 3 fuzzies, and off to the lake we went. Around to the back side of the lake we went where we had a choice of sun or shade found a nice spot that had just that choice, and sat, leashes on the fuzzies (this is their first time to the lake). Well there was the digging (pebbles, not sand or dirt) and more digging, then Patches (my daughters ferret) discovered the water not too bad he thought, but that is as far as he went then back to digging. A short time later, Chip (my weasel) also discovered the lake a few steps out and then into a full blown swim. None of us in our family had ever seen a ferret swim before, and now we were kicking ourselves and each other in the butt for no one thinking to bring the camera with us. (argh, what dummies) Chip swimming was one of the neatestthings that I have ever seen any of the weasels do. So smooth, so easy, kinda like an otter moves through the water, or even the look of what a water snake looks like, boy was he smooth.... He did not stay in too long, but seemed to enjoy it (I know we did) then out and back to digging. What a beautiful day!!!!! It was kinda neat to hear some of the reactions of the Germans. There w as an ooohhhh! (yuk translation) and a couple came up to us and asked what they were. and in some of the passing conversations(and we do not speak the language over here except the basics, food, lodging, train/flight/toilet info) But we have learned the German word for ferret, so we could make out in the conversations at least when the people recognized what they were. All in all, a great day was had by all. (and baths were had by all fuzzies when we got home). Donna [Posted in FML issue 1545]