I don't remember ever having issues with the cauldron. You're using hearth with it, correct? I think the smoke spawns at the center point of the hearth, so as long as the cauldron or something else is not directly on top of it, it should be ok...

I wouldn't doing anything in the game when you have 25 HP though. It's just too easy to go that way, for any reason. Fall damage, fire, smoke, obliterator(?), magical radiation, greylings... Being a home-viking even in meadows can be dangerous. :p