Hello,
About trees falling over, you can get a big sheet of 1-1/2" thick or
thicker plywood and screw the tree stand down to the middle of it.  I
wouldn't use anything less then 1-1/2" thick because it might not be heavy
enough.  I also wouldn't cut the sheet of plywood down in length because
that helps hold the tree down too.  Then put your tree in the stand.  It
seems to work for us.  If you have ever picked up a sheet of plywood you
know it is very heavy, which holds the tree down.  Take a large tree skirt,
or you could use a king size sheet, in whatever color you decorate in
or a large Christmas blanket to cover all of the plywood.  Or if your
really bored I guess you could always paint the plywood with some sort
of Christmas scene.  :o) Just make sure you put it up somehow when it's
drying or you might have little fuzzy ferret and cat feet prints ALL over.
Heeheehe
 
Hope this helps.
 
Take Care,
Dooks,
Toni
~Harley, Yoshi & Arnold~ Ferrets
~Lily & Trouble~ Cats
[Posted in FML issue 3516]