Saturday, May 2, 2009

And by the grace of God we will be in Massachusetts

In October and November 1996, Mr Quiltingmick and his Mrs (that's me) went to the north east of the United States, and spent five weeks travelling on the train from New York to Montreal, Canada, to Boston, to Washington D.C, and back again.

One of our stops was Amherst, Massachusetts. We had never heard of Amherst until we decided we needed a stop on the train line between Montreal and Boston - a stop that meant we could experience a New England town in fall. The guidebook revealed that it was a college town and the hometown of Emily Dickinson, and this just sweetened the deal. We splashed out on some lush B & B accommodation and arrived into the arms of a very welcoming hostess and a very beautiful town.
Amherst, Massachusetts

We spent a few days walking around Amherst and nearby Northampton, checking the book stores and the cafes, the cemetary, the college campuses and the Queen Anne Stick style architecture. It was all new and exciting and so very 'New England'. Mr Quiltingmick still reckons he'd like to retire to Amherst and make pocket money by chopping wood.


Not being familiar with the concept of an enclosed porch, we were captivated by the one at our B&B. We were encouraged to enter the house by way of the porch rather than the front door and it certainly felt more welcoming. Because we were there in fall, the porch smelled strongly of the over ripe apples that were kept in boxes on the porch. It was an amazing smell and very heady. Whenever I think of Amherst I think of that strong smell of apples. I don't think I've smelt anything like it since.

Quinces

That was until today, when I brought 5 kilos of quinces into my house. I'd read of the amazing fragrance of quinces, but didn't believe it until this morning. It is a magnificent fragrance - slightly sickly sweet, strongly perfumed and so much like the smell of over ripe apples. I am going to make Quince Paste, and Quince and Orange Jelly. It might take me days to make these things as quince takes a long time to cook, but with a smell like this pervading the house I really don't mind how long it takes me. It's taking me back to Amherst, Massachusetts and that can only be a good thing.

12 comments:

  1. What a gorgeous building - I love the way that certain smells/tastes/sounds can evoke such strong and emotive memories.
    Enjoy the creative process of your jelly/paste making

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  2. Amherst sounds divine - how wonderful that a scent alone can bring back all those wonderful memories.

    Mmmm quince paste! Yum.

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  3. i loved NE. I didn't make it out to Amherst and regret that to today. I totally get why you fell in love with the area though. I could go back there in a heartbeat.

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  4. Quince paste and Brie...heaven. Good luck with the cooking, the smell alone would be worth it.

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  5. Oh how exciting. I love quince paste. I've never been brave enough to cook quinces.

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  6. ooh beautiful post QM! I'm so glad you got your quinces, and Amherst looks gorgeous!

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  7. Mmm...Quinces....NE is nice, but I've never been there in the fall. One day, I hope.

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  8. I live about an hour east of Amherst and your right, it sure is a wonderful area. It's a cool, sunny day here today and we're getting the garden going.

    Enjoy your day!

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  9. There have been many occasions when I have so wished that it was possible to blog a 'smell'!

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  10. I am emailing you my utterly amazing quince jelly and paste recipe in one - it should be hitting your mailbox right around.....NOW!

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  11. I'd love to visit that part of America, and it looks gorgeous in your photo.

    I've never actually had a quince. I'll have to keep an eye out for them.

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  12. I live in apple country in the NE and I know that smell of apples in the fall. Growing up we had apple trees in our backyard and there is no other smell that I more strongly associate with fall.

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