Friday, January 6, 2012

alligators and oranges







we see a citrus grove and in a split second decide to make a stop. we're on our way home from Disney and i gladly welcome the few minutes out of the truck. my feet hit the gravel and i'm already in love with this place. the little gift shop is in an old shed and is so welcoming. we walk through and almost immediately are offered some fresh samples from the backyard grove. there's such a different array of oranges, many i have never heard of. we are given a sack with a map and head back to the groves to pick our own. passing picnic tables, the "world's largest monster truck" (converted from an old school bus), chickens, little pond and greenhouses, we make our way back to the trees. mom wants a certain kind of oranges and we get a little lost trying to find those particular trees. soon we do and the picking begins. the fruit is up high and i am lower but i manage to grab a few. the smell is delightful and i wish to never go. soon the bag is full and we head back to the little, old shed. along with the oranges, sticks of jerky is bought by them for a mid-morning snack for on the way home. after being wished by the friendly family of owners, "happy new year," we climb into the truck once again.

we really did take a little piece of Florida home with us and it tastes oh so good.


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30 comments:

Summer-Raye said...

OMG how fun is that. I don't even know where orange trees are around here. Ha! Pretty color on you, too.

Marli said...

i love. i love....and i miss it so badly, once again. ;)

thanks for helping me with the little ones today. it's gonna be good! ;D

xo
purposelyathome.blogspot.com

Kaela said...

Oh, that looks like fun! I remember when we went peach picking...that was the best!

Trinka said...

Oh, that sounds so fun! When my family went to Florida, I was eight, so I didn't get to FULLY appreciate it's...Florida-ness. ;)

kait said...

hey, I'm eating an awesome florida orange as we speak ha ha. I've never gotten to go to an orange grove, but I can only imagine that it would smell delightful. you are such a great story teller and because I was coincidentally eating an orange at the same time I could really imagine the whole thing so well!

ps I like your alligator friend tee hee!

Gentri said...

That is awesome. :D

my thrifty closet said...

This may sound weird but i have never seen an orange tree before ...haha..nice pictures by the way, you're so adorable. i am v intrigued by your blog name, v interesting, i like lower case letters thanks for following my blog, follow back

mongs
mythriftycloset.blogspot.com

Megan Marie said...

i love love orange trees! we have a lemon grove right next to us...does that count?! you look so cute!

ashleymoranyoga said...

Great photos! Looks like such a fun trip :)

xo,
Ashley
http://www.mistergandmecrafts.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Hey, cool! Hope you had fun at Disney♥

xoxo,
Jessica

kait said...

I wish I lived closer to an orange grove so I could visit one, but they are all in south Florida. Citrus doesn't take very well to the winters in north Florida where I live (neither do alligators really ha ha, but that's definitely ok by me).

Have a wonderful weekend!

Anonymous said...

It's the unexpected stops you make along the way that end up giving you the best memories! I'm so glad you stopped at that orange grove! I miss Florida oranges picked straight from the tree! When we lived there, our neighbors grew them, so we had an unlimited supply right there!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you had a lot of fun. Yum, fresh oranges. Sounds delicious. Can't say I ever had freshly picked oranges.

Lindsey said...

I bet those oranges were so delicious!! I love oranges. And how are you always so adorable?? :)
xoxo

Rissi said...

Never have been to Florida but it'd be a cool place to visit. =D

Happy 2012, Memory - I hope it's an awesome year for you.

Go Bold said...

mmm.. those fruit sound so good!

--Rachel
:)

Courtney said...

Yummy! Citrus is on my mind now!

Hannah Sullivan said...

Yumm! Oranges are my favorite food.. and grapefruits and apples and grapes...strawberries...watermeleons... the list could go on forever. Darling blog!!! I love your hair- the curls rock.

hannahmichellesullivan.blogspot.com

Kaela said...

Hey girl, I awarded you on my blog:
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Mrs. Darcy said...

Just found your blog and it is so cute (except now I am craving oranges, lol!). We don't have any orange trees on Long Island, but there are tons of Apple Orchards!

Also, love the pic with the alligator. I live in Florida for a little while and I loved seeing the baby alligators!

aspiretoinspire

Heather (JesusChick) said...

Nothing can compete with Florida oranges :)) Thank goodness Florida is my home state and I get to have them year-round ;D

Janine said...

I wish we would've stopped at an orange grove when we were visiting Florida. I just loved the way they smelled.

Why Girls Are Weird said...

Mmm Florida oranges, I'm jealous!

Stella said...

Looks like a lot of fun!

Nicole said...

DISNEY! love that place. and looks like you had such fun.

happy monday dear!
xoxo

h said...

This reminds me of a random blueberry orchard I once stopped at near Ithaca, NY. It even had a blueberry-wine-tasting in the shed out back.

It's great to stumble upon these little places so accidentally!

Mandy@OrangeAutumn said...

It looks like you had so much fun!! I want some Florida oranges! Yum :)

Elle Sees said...

I think I've been there! I love road trips.

Grace said...

Fun! :) Loved seeing your pictures...

I just wanted to thank you so much for leaving the sweet note on my blog by leaving one in return! :) I really appreciate your support. Yes, indeed, I would love to be blog friends. ;)

Blessings,
Grace
come stop for tea @ gracesgardenwalk.blogspot.com

Elisha said...

im just going over your old posts.. and might i say memory.. you look QUITE BEAUTIFUL here?! <3