Bamboo Heist

When I moved into my current residence, I brought with me a fabulous large outdoor table set. My neighbor enjoys it every day, and since our yard doesn't get hardly any shade -- the reason why I barely garden anymore (my plants keep dying from the sun) -- she decided to create an umbrella for the table.

I saw her effort lying in the lawn the other day and asked her about it. She said it wasn't working because the structure wasn't sturdy enough. "That's an easy fix," I said. "Just get some bamboo for a frame."

Long story short, I asked my friend Rob (who collects bamboo) if I could get some bamboo from him. He said better yet he knew a "secret site" where we could get some. So we drove there last weekend (before I got completely knocked on my butt by an awful summer cold).

We pulled over to the side of the road next to a ditch, which was next to some woods. (I really have no idea who owns this land.) Rob said, "There's a trail back there if you want to drive. I take my truck back there sometimes." Reader, I do not have a truck. Did that stop me? No! I am a Southern Woman. Off-roading is in our BLOOD.

So after first looking around for the fuzz, I propelled the Honda forward through the ditch and into the woods.


We approached a large bamboo stand.


We stealthily procured a few stalks and hightailed it out of there. I think my new muffler is still intact...