Front Porch Ashtray

My mother-in-law is coming to visit us from South America for an extended stay, and she’s a smoker. She’s always been very accommodating about smoking outside of our house and she generally goes out onto our covered front porch to smoke. In years past we’ve used different random containers for ashtrays but this year I thought we’d class the place up a little and make something specifically for her.

I stuck a garden Shepard’s crook into the ground next to the porch rail and hung a metal pail from the hook. That way the ashtray is both fireproof and easy to empty and clean. This is kind of a work in progress, because I’m still contemplating painting the bucket (either completely painted or with stripes).