In response to the posts about keeping the ferrets safe and having a
Christmas Tree:
 
I have children who climbed before they could walk.  Christmas trees were
a real danger for them because of that.
 
One year we lived in a house that had a large coat closet in the living
room.  We put the tree up in the closet (big closet but we removed the
overhead shelves anyway.  When we weren't in the room with the kids we
kept the closet door shut.
 
The next year we lived in a home that had an insulated arctic entrance that
opened into the front room.  (it is common in Alaska to have a small closed
entry hall into the house to cut down on drafts when the outside door is
open and a place to hang coats and gloves and keep boots).  We put the tree
up in the entrance way hall (the arctic entrance) and only opened the door
when we were in the living room with the kids.
 
I know it's sounds strange to put your Christmas tree in a hallway or
closet but it's a good way to have one and reduce the chance of an
accident.
 
And in case anyone is wondering, my kids are in high school and college now
so we can have our Christmas tree out in the open.  None of our ferrets
bother the tree, just the presents.  And of course they feel that have to
leave one or two of their own in that pile as well.
 
Roberta
[Posted in FML issue 3262]