Whew! I didn't check my mail all through vacation, and it's taken me almost two hours to get through it all! Snow Ferrets -We went to the farm for Thanksgiving, and all had a blast. Boomer and Bonnie (my uncle's blue heeler) polished off the pumpkin pie leftovers, and then took a nap together. Both of our weasels love to go outside in the winter. Bongo is usually happy riding in our coat, but every once in a while, she'll get down and snorkle until her feet get cold. Boomer makes a tunnel the instant he hits snow, and is off. He loves the snow, and would stay out in it until he froze if we let him. His little feet and nose turn hot pink, but he doesn't really shiver. They both have snow suits we made for them. Everyone in ND wears wool socks from October-April, so I took our old socks with the heels blown out, cut the foot part off, and cut leg holes in the cuff part. Then I cut a hole in the top for the leash to go through, and ta-daaa! A ferret snow suit. If the cuff is really long, you can fold the top down and make a turtleneck. (more entertaining to you than to the fert, tho'.) It takes them a while to get used to it, but once they get out in the snow, they get distracted and forget about it. Spiders - Both of our ferrets will eat any bug they come across. This weekend, Boomer found a cricket and ate it. They only reason we found out was because he had a cricket leg hanging out of his mouth. Bongo will go berserk trying to catch houseflies, and she once ate a HUGE, unbelievably ugly spider. YECCH. Must be a ferret quirk. Fortunately, we don't have any poisonous ones around here. Scratchy thighs - Hoo, did I laugh when I read this! Boomer **LOVES** this. Just touch his back leg, and he sticks it straight up in the air - almost like a salute! He'll even do it when he's sound asleep. Bongo will do it sometimes, but not always. Tanya Boomer ("Ooh, that's the spot..") Bongo ("I'll scratch my own cooties, thanks.") [Posted in FML issue 1773]