Have not posted in sometime as too many things happening but still kinda following along: Have a couple of quick comments in response: (hohoho Millie = quick responses:) The secret to taking pictures is: (drumroll) F e r r a t o n e another word is bribery. Set them where you want to take the picture, give them ferretone and they get so distracted they are still for the second or two you have to click the picture. Also there is that little bit of time you have where they are wondering if they are going to get just a little bit more, you can do a lot with them then for an additional half minute - use it intelligently, it's precious. Nancy: Considering you can't do a barricade between living room and kitchen because you have a 5' opening: just a thought but something VERY attractive I have seen in moble homes is a wrought iron fence with a gate opening to portion it off. You then use plexiglass to cover the wrought iron, doesn't marr the beauty of the living conditions and it a marvelous holdback, I have a halfwall with posts made a pure plexiglass between their area and my kitchen - its a nuisance to have to fasten and unfasten because the latch has to go so low, plexiglass is flexible, where the wrought iron would sturdy the plexiglass and you can fasten and unfasten the gate at human levels. But anyway, my suggestion which is cheap and effective is cardboard and duct tape. Of course mine don't get into the kitchen except in error but they have the den and the washroom that have "those" kinda things in them. I took carboard box and cut them to size and ducttaped them from the sides of the appliance to the wall (really from washer to dryer as they cannot get past to the back on the otherside) and I also did this to the bigscreen tv that sits up in a bay window they get into all the time. I pushed cardboard in far enough it felt secure and then ducttaped like mad all around the edges where they couldn't get their well manicured little nails under the edge - they test it a lot but half heartedly and go on to other things not so secured. If it is the looks you worry about, then some paint the same color of your walls, or wallpaper with Clear tape around the edges to keep them from tearing it off - it can be done to blend into the decor. And remember they are used to getting back there so the battle will go on for a couple of weeks - they have an awfully hard time believing a human would put an end to some of their play areas. And Skeeter: The magic of Skeeter is the humans who have suffered through losing their little one are left with a limp, lifeless, wasted body remembering what just happened and then there is this letter from Skeeter telling what the little tyke is up to now, doing the things he/she used to do when full of life and the image of that body fades to the memories of wonderous times. It takes away what the eyes saw last and replaces it with an image to keep in the heart. People would not write about their heartaches in the FML if they didn't want relief from their pain and we all share in it together so it does a wonder to visualize these darlings being free spirits whether they are ours or ours through FML. Thank you Skeeter. Millie and her Noble but dysfunctional Cleaning Crew (hormones are raging at the moment) Easy Off: the most perfect ferret in the whole wide world Ammonia: Hey Aaaajax! You over there with the naked tummy, Yohooo Cascade: Why is he sleeping so much, the vet was the one who did all the work Ajax: ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz Dizzy: They must have thought you were a girl, Ajax, they shaved you just like ole Budda Belly Joy there when she got fixed. Joy: Humfph!!! It's about time you guys have to go through some of the things we girls have to go through. Prell: I feel so free - no Ajax hanging on to my neck butttt poor Ajax. Febreze: Gee, he is snoring, think we ought to get even with what he "tried" to do to us before? Grandma: Shhhhhhh, come away from the cage my darlings, and let the little boy sleep. [Posted in FML issue 2626]