We had a large gathering of Mr. W's former co-workers on our patio for lunch today. Two of the smokers stepped off the patio into the grass to smoke. One of them was near the driveway and has said that he stamped his cigarette out on the pavement, picked it up when it cooled and took it with him to dispose. (Very considerate since we are not smokers and don't allow it in our home) The other was smoking near the edge of the patio...the patio that is lined with shrubs, cedar mulch and a container garden of tomatoes and peppers.
As we were making the decision to cook dinner at home rather than going out, Mr. W looked out the window. At 6 pm, the mulch surrounding our patio was smoking heavily, blackened and the rising wind was causing small flames to lick up closer and closer to our home.
New house rule: Don't smoke inside, don't smoke outside. You want to do it? Go stand in the street!
