I have been so busy I just now got to catch up on all the newsletters which have piled up over the last week. They had me laughing and crying! Ferrets who cross the path of FFMLers are the luckiest ferrets in the world. [Moderator's note: This is the FML. The FFML is also an email list list about ferrets, but run by Ms. Code in Canada. BIG] I had to laugh at the fireplace problems. Granted I don't have a fire place (living in the Virgin Islands), but my Milo and Odie (who are both 8 years and going strong) went snow sking with me in Coloroda a few years back. I spent most of my vacation trying to keep them out of the fire place and not on the slopes. When I was young our cats use to sleep on the warm coals as soon as the fire died - that is until Tag-tag's tail caught on fire! No harm done just a very wet unhappy cat and a very singed tail. Floors - I recently remodeled my house. And besides driving the architect and builder crazy with designing and building to ferret proof standards, I chose to get off-white concrete tiles. Everyone said I was crazy because of potential "ferret, uh - accidents" and that I would have staining problems. We'll I knew what I wanted and refused to budge. And despite the sealer the architect and builder recommended - I was getting cute little "marks" in corners. I refused to admit defeat and went on a search for the perfect sealer. And I found it. Clear Seal - River Rock Sealer. It is meant for river rock tiles, concrete floors, garage floors, but can also be used on finished wood floors. It is water soluble, and goes on and cleans up easily (it was the 13 hours with muradic acid getting the "spots" out that wasn't easy). Nothing absorbs or stains. Perfect for those possessed by ferrets - oops I mean who own ferrets. My architect is now desiging furniture for my ferrets room - I didn't even ask - she just fell in love with them like the rest of us. As soon as she's done I will have to get it on the net for everyone to see. Amy and her 9 fur snakes (whoses mishaps don't stain anymore) [Posted in FML issue 2465]