UP IN STANTHORPE

Jordie wanted to see some snow this winter,. errr..unfortunately this is a rare thing in Queensland. However, Stanthorpe, the coldest town in Queensland has occasionally recorded snow in winter even though on a flakey (pardon the pun) level. This year, it had already snowed in Tenterfield, just right across the border in NSW, about 2 hours drive further from Stanthorpe. 

So over the long weekend holiday for the Queen's birthday, we trudged to this charming little town 800 metres above sea level. It is about 3 hours' drive from Gold Coast. We took the Hinterland roads just to enjoy the country sights as well. Lots of horses, lambs, cows grazing peacefully along the way. Because it was colder here, deciduous trees and autumn scenery was more common here. Beautiful sights, with also fallen leaves by the roadside... Been a long time since I last saw the fall effect...  

Stanthorpe used to be a mining town for tin and is part of the stretch in South East Queensland known as the Granite Belt, blessed with very fertile soil suitable for growing grapes, stonefruits and apples. Alas, early winter just wasn't the right time to be picking apples, but we had a go at it anyway at the apple farm at Sutton's Juice Factory at Applethorpe just before reaching Stanthorpe.

...and had fun picking our own fresh apples from the tree.

"MINE.. ALL MINE!!"

The fruit trees were trimmed to a very short height so it was very easy to pick them. Hmm, I was visualizing myself climbing up ladders to pick'em but this doesn't quite cut it.. Not much apples left at this time of the year, and the woman did warn us they won't look aesthetic or eye-pleasing especially since they weren't polished waxed and fully organic.. (which basically means, worms love it..)

THE UNFORBIDDEN FRUIT

So.. here comes Jordie with his bright red bag, ready to zoom in for his ripe red pickings...him & Daddy wandered from row to row looking for the best fruits.
Daddy took the 1st bite off his apple and offered me some. I commented that it felt like Adam was the 1st one this time taking the apple and offering it to Eve, a reversal of the Eden scenario.

Jordie quickly saw it was ok to eat them and off he chomps on his own apple too.

It actually is crunchy, sweet and fragrant, but a wee bit sour...I think one is supposed to leave the apple for a few days to let it sweeten up a little...

IT'S CRRRUNCHY!!

Apple fruit juice @ Sutton's

Sutton's farm canned their own fruit juice, no sugar added, no flavouring, 100% organic.

However, we decided not to get any because it was rather expensive.

Next time, maybe... but nice to be in cold weather and running around picking your apples.

We also visited the Crystal Lavender Farm although again, wrong time of the year! So, no huge hosts of lavenders...shucks!

But our sole purpose was to show Jordie the alpacas on this farm. Cute creatures, but not very friendly.. we weren't very sure if they would spit at people like their cousins, the Llamas... so we did keep our safe distance....

GIVING OUT THE LOVE..EEYORE!

 ..Neat huh, never knew the donkeys were named as such- the Jerusalem Donkeys. There is a quaint story often  told that a donkey acquired its cross because it carried Jesus into Jerusalem. It’s also told that the leg stripes were received from walking through the palm branches that were laid in its path in honor of the burden it was carrying.

THE DONKEY'S CROSS

Well, I did wind up getting meself a nice bottle of Lavender oil. It is a 100% pure extract of the lavender flower and smells divine... therapy for stress...

We also did a dairy farm that sold cheese and a winery called the Castle GlenWinery. They stocked lots of different muscats and wines and even creme liquers, such as lemon cream, white choc, mocha and the yummy lot. Many wineries here because of the suitability of soil for growing grapes...but I think Perth probably has better choices...

Overall, this was a nice, relaxing trip up to Stanthorpe in winter..Maybe by summer, we'll do the apricots and peaches next..

Jordie's wish to see snow didn't materialise though, but then, we did forewarn him not to get his hopes too high this time..    better luck next time.