Man that is just heartbreaking about the fire restrictions in your area. It is about the only skill I have going for me <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Anyhow, one of my favorite things is to make little stick fires here and there that act as hand warmer fires. We have a little fun doing them, they aren't environmentally damaging and are nearly smokeless if you choose your tinder and kindling right. Just make sure it is fully extinguished before leaving. The little prairie that my wife and I frequent is not supposed to have man-made fires. However, they burn it out every decade in order to keep the hardwood at bay. The natural state of the area is prairie that was maintained by fires. Some of the species of trees in the parks require fire in order to treat the seeds and cause them to open up.