Putting down roots

Now that I've decided to stay here a while, I've been blissfully putting down some roots.

My father let me have some starts of his bamboo, and I've planted them along the fence line between my house and the road.  I'm hoping they'll grow into a goodish screen fairly quickly.  Because let me tell you, a screen is sorely needed.

"You know that girl who lives in that old house on the hill?"
"Yeah..."
"Guess what I saw her outside doing today!  Planting things!  In January!"

Judging by the faces of the people driving by, that scenario is undoubtedly happening all up and down my road tonight.  I feel like I live in a fishbowl.

It's actually an excellent time to plant bamboo.  It's still green, but it's dormant.  The weather is cool but not cold, and rainy, and it's supposed to stay that way for a while now.  I'm not saying it makes the most delightful conditions for being outside digging in the muck, but the bamboo will be happy.

It's also the Chinese New Year tomorrow.  It seems wonderfully auspicious to be outside planting green life this time of year.  And in Feng Shui, bamboo is lucky anyway! 

It's beautiful!