well an update....they are still under the dock, but swimming freely in there...so they at least are not frozen in...we have some long tie downs for like trailers etc that are like 30 feet each or so. We tied one end to the end of the extension ladder and the two ends together. while I stood holding the end of the ladder on the dock, he walked the perimeter of the pond and we were able to get the tie down in between the ladder handles on the dock. as we were essentailly towing it by hand the tie broke...we traded places and I used a long net (on a 15 foot pole to hook the end of the tie) subsequently, I went in passed my knees through the ice as the tie broke loose from the ladder on the other end...wellies filling with water, I had to abort mission and cry like a baby as i dropped to the ground trying to haul off my wellies which were now vaccuum sealed to my legs. In bear grill fashion, i bare footedly stomped my tantrum yelling at the ducks for being so blastedly stupid to go out in the frozen pond instead of thier nice warm insulated house. I since have hobbled up to the house barefoot in the 19 degree weather for 200 yards and am updating my fellow duck lovers. I am ever so slowly finding myself wanting to erase my name from that list by the way. Sent the 14 year old down to help the DH with another go as I thaw out for what looks to be a few rounds of frozen over hell....I sure hope thos darn ducks know how much they are loved....