Apple-Picking in an Orchard in Victoria!
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A few weeks ago, honeymouse, mousehubby, myself, Bear's sis, and another Singaporean friend packed ourselves into two cars and drove all the way to an Apple Orchard somewhere in the nether regions of Ringwood to pick buckets of apples!
Before we embarked on our labourious session, we made sure to fill our tummies first! First stop - a lovely Dim Sum Lunch!
In the background, you can see honeymouse poised with her chopsticks, waiting patiently for me to finish snapping my photo before digging in!
Next, we started the long drive to the Apple Orchard! Under the sweltering hot 'n' dry heat, I almost fell asleep in the car during the ride.
Luckily, I wasn't driving!
Finally, a welcome sight!! The road that seems to go on forever and ever...
Yes, it was a huge, huge Orchard with, I think, more than 10 varieties of apples growing in plots of land!
I knew I should've taken a photo of the blackboard in the barnhouse showing the different types of apples that are ready for the picking on different months! Hmm... there were Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, ... what else har, honeymouse? -
It was a really huge orchard! The apple trees were neatly planted in rows. Actually, I expected the apple trees to be much taller than they were. I thought we had to climb up ladders to pick our apples but nope... they were quite short, only a bit taller than us.
Only the apples in season during that time could be picked. We were allowed to pick and eat as many as we liked! I think mousehubby managed to chuck the most apples there. I forgot my digicam and had to walk all the way back to the car to get it and by the time I returned, there were two buckets filled with Royal Gala apples already! They were really easy to pick, if they are ripe, you just hold them, lift them up a little and gently give an upward twist and they'll fall off readily!
These were the apples in season at the time we went :
Look at this branch, heavy with ripe apples, ready for the picking!!
Sadly, there were lots of apples on the ground, slowly rotting away.
What a waste! 
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Despite the drought, and the Stage 3 Water Restrictions in Victoria, the orchard and various other farms are permitted to irrigate their crops for a fee. That's why it's so green here.
In the background, you can see how parched the earth is. The sun here is really strong and has been scorching a lot of fields so you don't see a lot of green fields now. The situation is aggravated by the drought. We sorely need rain... in the right areas, esp the water catchment areas.
Just now, whilst in K-mart, there was news on the radio saying that one of the reservoirs here have enough water to last Victoria for only 60 days!
The newsreader also commented that though we are in such dire conditions, the govt still has yet to do SOMETHING about it! 
And finally, ta-daaaah!! My very own darling little windowsill garden! My little babies! They are succulents and are drought-friendly and they are real survivors and difficult to kill! Good for people like me, who don't have a green thumb! 
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Oooo...
Rhonda da jie take me to Aust please...
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photobucket hates me so I'll have to view the pics when I get home
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Yo, Gack! How are you doing in the army? Still busy pak-tor'ing?Originally posted by Gackt247:Oooo...
Rhonda da jie take me to Aust please... 
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Originally posted by av98m:photobucket hates me so I'll have to view the pics when I get home Ok... but remember, ok? If you love wide open spaces, you'll love a few of the shots in here!
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U most be enjoying urself so much away from sgf tt u havent been updated.. I'm out of army quite awhile back.. n i'm rather available n eligible but unwanted..Originally posted by Rhonda:Yo, Gack! How are you doing in the army? Still busy pak-tor'ing? -
The one we picked the most - Royal Gala!!Originally posted by Rhonda:Yes, it was a huge, huge Orchard with, I think, more than 10 varieties of apples growing in plots of land! I knew I should've taken a photo of the blackboard in the barnhouse showing the different types of apples that are ready for the picking on different months! Hmm... there were Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, ... what else har, honeymouse? Also, JonaGold, etc I can't remember the names too so here's the website:
http://www.wildaboutfruit.com.au/index.php?pageID=118 -
Aww... sorry to hear about you losing your love.Originally posted by Gackt247:U most be enjoying urself so much away from sgf tt u havent been updated.. I'm out of army quite awhile back.. n i'm rather available n eligible but unwanted.. You'll find that special someone who's meant to be by your side. Some of us stumble along the way before we end up with someone with whom we can complete the journey of life together, so don't give up!
I haven't gotten myself a PC, so I STILL have to rely on going to the internet cafe to get online, that's why I haven't been up-to-date with the forum news. There are just too many things to settle in my new life here, so I'm trying to take things easy, one step at a time. Besides, I'm also worried that once I get connected from home, I'll waste too much time online and not go for my walks and outings and cook and all that!
Hey, don't be a stranger now, ok! Hang around sometime and talk to us. -
Thanks!Originally posted by honeymouse:The one we picked the most - Royal Gala!! Also, JonaGold, etc I can't remember the names too so here's the website:
http://www.wildaboutfruit.com.au/index.php?pageID=118
Sometimes, I have memory lapses... -
See how loh.. since now i'm so free.. earm some pocket money maybe i can afford an air ticket to aust.. den i'll definitely hang ard n talk till not tmr..Originally posted by Rhonda:Aww... sorry to hear about you losing your love. You'll find that special someone who's meant to be by your side. Some of us stumble along the way before we end up with someone with whom we can complete the journey of life together, so don't give up!
I haven't gotten myself a PC, so I STILL have to rely on going to the internet cafe to get online, that's why I haven't been up-to-date with the forum news. There are just too many things to settle in my new life here, so I'm trying to take things easy, one step at a time. Besides, I'm also worried that once I get connected from home, I'll waste too much time online and not go for my walks and outings and cook and all that!
Hey, don't be a stranger now, ok! Hang around sometime and talk to us.
Anyway.. u residing melbourne izit? cant rem.. -
Reminds me of a song I loveOriginally posted by Rhonda: Ok... but remember, ok? If you love wide open spaces, you'll love a few of the shots in here!
Who doesn't know what I'm talking about
Who's never left home, who's never struck out
To find a dream and a life of their own
A place in the clouds, a foundation of stone
Many precede and many will follow
A young girl's dream no longer hollow
It takes the shape of a place out west
But what it holds for her, she hasn't yet guessed
[Chorus:]
She needs wide open spaces
Room to make her big mistakes
She needs new faces
She knows the high stakes
She traveled this road as a child
Wide eyed and grinning, she never tired
But now she won't be coming back with the rest
If these are life's lessons, she'll take this test
[Repeat Chorus]
She knows the high stakes
As her folks drive away, her dad yells, "Check the oil!"
Mom stares out the window and says, "I'm leaving my girl"
She said, "It didn't seem like that long ago"
When she stood there and let her own folks know
[Repeat Chorus]
She knows the highest stakes
She knows the highest stakes
She knows the highest stakes
She knows the highest stakes -
Don't think I know that tune, av.
But, each time I go out into the countryside with honeymouse, I think of the Dixie Chicks' "Wide Open Spaces". -
THATS the song I just posted!!!Originally posted by Rhonda:Don't think I know that tune, av.
But, each time I go out into the countryside with honeymouse, I think of the Dixie Chicks' "Wide Open Spaces". >.
You dun remember the lyrics do you?
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Er... Erm... Ahem!!Originally posted by av98m:THATS the song I just posted!!! >.
You dun remember the lyrics do you?
I have to confess something... when I listen to songs, usually I get too taken away by the tune and cannot recall the lyrics too well, unless I love them that much and they are within my singing range, then I'll dig up the lyrics and sing them over and over AND OVER again and again and again until they are deeply ingrained in my memory.
That's why Bear always amazes me with his ability to remember so many song lyrics!
Looks like you might have the same ability too! -
Are the apples crunchy and juicy?
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an apple a day keep the doctor away
too many apples a day -> keep yr tummy full all day
looks yummy, i need to take an apple after dinner tonite -
*finally sees the pics*
wow!!! wide open spaces indeed!! -
I love Rhonda's window!!!!
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No I don't. But I do remember the chorus at leastOriginally posted by Rhonda:Er... Erm... Ahem!!
I have to confess something... when I listen to songs, usually I get too taken away by the tune and cannot recall the lyrics too well, unless I love them that much and they are within my singing range, then I'll dig up the lyrics and sing them over and over AND OVER again and again and again until they are deeply ingrained in my memory.
That's why Bear always amazes me with his ability to remember so many song lyrics!
Looks like you might have the same ability too! -
Well, I only remember the three words and how they are sung... that's about it!Originally posted by av98m:No I don't. But I do remember the chorus at least -
Thanks!Originally posted by viciouskitty74:I love Rhonda's window!!!! I love my window too! It's so huge and it occupies almost an entire wall! I'm so lucky I got the corner unit! In summer, the blinds are kept down all the time though, because it gets too glaring and too hot!
Three things I really love about my apartment - huge windows (compared to the other units I inspected), kitchen in a separate room (most apartments here kinda combine the kitchen and living and dining area, which stinks up the whole area when you cook up a storm! ) and it's larger than most gloomy one-bedroom units here. I'm a really happy camper here! -
Yup! Yup!!!Originally posted by av98m:*finally sees the pics*
wow!!! wide open spaces indeed!! I really love living here, cause just a short drive away and I can be amidst these wide open spaces! It's a really awesome feeling, I tell ya! -
*enjoying and reading all of Rhonda's posts and pictures with relish.*