Welcome to Life Images by Jill

Welcome to Life Images by Jill.........Stepping into the light and bringing together the images and stories of our world. I am a photographer, writer and multi-media artist.
Focussing mainly on Western Australia and Australia, I am seeking to preserve images and memories of the beautiful world in which we live and the people in it.

Welcome!

Welcome!
PLEASE CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO GO TO MY RED BUBBLE STORE.

Tuesday 31 March 2015

Autumn arrives in Western Australia

Autumn has arrived in the south west of Western Australia. Although our Australian native trees are evergreen you can see autumn colour starting to appear in the imported tree varieties that are dotted throughout our towns and countryside.


On the weekend I celebrated the arrival of autumn by joining a water-colour workshop run by Marguerite Aberle at Lyndendale Gallery on Crooked Brook Road just out of Dardanup, about a half hour drive from my home. I had been promising myself to attend one of Marguerite's workshops for a couple of years, and what a joy it was to finally attend. The theme for the workshop was autumn colours.

Please click on "read more" to keep seeing and reading more



Marguerite is passionate about her art and her generosity of spirit and encouragement made me feel welcome and ignited my artistic streak that has bubbled away underneath my work-day life.  I hadn't picked up a paintbrush for years, and know I have a lot to learn, and I am looking forward to another workshop with Marguerite so I can continue to explore water colours.  You can learn more about Marguerite and see some of her beautiful work by clicking here - Marguerite Aberle


It really was a wonderful morning joining with other like minded ladies in the beautiful Lyndendale environment. One cannot help but be inspired! 
For this workshop we were making gift cards with an autumn theme.
You can see some of my tentative humble creations below here and above on middle and lower right pics. I look forward to bringing more to you when I meet up with Marguerite again soon to complete the project, and as time goes on.


Another signal to the start of autumn, for me at least, is the arrival of quinces.  This is a old fruit that is not often seen in modern orchards or backyards. The tree you see in the image below is at historic King Cottage in Bunbury where my writer's group now meet. I have been expectantly watching the fruiting of this tree over the last couple of months.




Quinces are a fruit of contrasts. The raw fruit is rock hard. You cannot eat it raw, although according to my friend who has a tree on their family property, the parrots love them. My dear friend bought me some bags of quinces over the weekend, and I stewed some straight away, and will be making quince paste very soon. The aroma of stewing quinces is intoxicating. They magically turn from hard yellow to soft succulent ruby pink.

 

You can eat them stewed like this or put them into a pie. For stewing just peel, core, and slice into eights. You can either stew them in a saucepan with a little sugar and water, or in the oven as I have done. The oven method takes longer but gives a richer taste.

For about 4-5 quinces - peel, core and quarter the quinces (or thinner slices if large quinces).
Put in an oven-proof dish,
with juice and zest of 2 lemons and 1 orange,  (although only 1 lemon works fine)
2 cinnamon sticks,  (1 cinnamon stick is fine)
1 and a quarter cups of raw sugar (less if you prefer)
and about 500 mls water. (just to cover - quantity dependent on the number and size of the quinces you have). 
Cover with a piece of damp baking paper. Bake at 160-170 C for 2-3 hours. 


The longer and slower the cooking, the pinker they become.


So delicious. I adore them! Have you ever tried quinces? If not, I do hope you buy some quinces if you ever see them in your market.
And like "The Owl and the Pussycat" don't forget to eat with a runcible spoon!
You might also like -  And slices of quince which they ate with with runcible spoon

Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week.
I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

Mosaic Monday
Our World Tuesday
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global
Agent Mystery Case
What's It Wednesday

28 comments:

  1. Autumn looks lovely in your part of the world.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I remember seeing jars of quince jelly lining a pantry shelf when I visited a school friend years ago. Her mum and grandma had made them the previous weekend. The colour was fabulous, glowing ruby red.

    ReplyDelete

  3. love your paintings. We have always had a Quince tree. My husband makes a mean Quince paste but we have a battle keeping the parrots at bay. Presently eating stewed Quince with yogurt for breakfast.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. quince with yoghurt for breakfast - oh yum!

      Delete
  4. It would appear that autumn is a beautiful season of muted colours for you too Jill. I've never had quince and can't recall seeing them in the grocery stores in Ontario but the dish of stewed fruit looks delicious.
    You're the second participant that attended a painting workshop and I enjoyed seeing the cards made at yours.
    Thank you for linking to Mosaic Monday.

    ReplyDelete
  5. beautiful, beautiful images Jill, I love your warmly colored autumn photos!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hello Jill, your autumn leaves look lovely. Well done! I have not seen quinces in our market, I will keep looking for them though.. The painting workshop looks like fun! Have a happy week and Happy Easter!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have never seen one here in USA but think I read of them in the Bible. Here in Oregon we are just beginning our Spring!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Happy Fall Jill! I just love seeing Autumn leaves, but must admit how ready I am for a full blown sunlit Spring :) You're so talented, your watercolors are as just beautiful as your photos! I've never had quinces, but will definitely have to try them...

    ReplyDelete
  9. I like the colours in your prints. - Margy

    ReplyDelete
  10. Jill, they look fabulous...thanks for all the lovely things you have written. I must admit I come alive when doing these workshops...I still stress a bit, but in the main love it. Is always wonderful to see the results of each 'students' efforts, and, all are different!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Marguerite. I really did enjoy the class, despite feeling a little inadequate. I look forward to another "play date"

      Delete
  11. autumn is my favourite season of the year Jill with its deep burnished colourings. At the moment we still have figs and rasberries for picking in our Adelaide Hills but it won't be long before the "pick your own quinces" signs start to pepper our country lanes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. pick your own quinces! really! I would be in seventh heaven!

      Delete
  12. I love the colours of Autumn and I would be more than happy to see some here in Queensland. We are still experiencing the heat and humidity of Summer here and I can't wait for it to finish. I remember we had a Quince tree at our house when I was a child and my Mum used to make Quince Jelly which was delicious on bread.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I was lucky enough to be part of Marguerite Aberle's workshop too.A great way to celebrate my favourite season. A lovely blog.I enjoy the images and the writing. Thanks, Jill.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love Autumn, especially in WA. Great photos Jill. Thanks so much for linking up at Agent Mystery Case for Worth Casing Wednesday. Have a great week.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I am so happy that you are putting your hand to watercolours...again, since you mentioned it had been a while. I have tried my hand at painting as well and enjoy, but I live so far out and even with a husby who paints, I wish there were study classes. I have plenty of books, but enjoy hands on learning. I have never had Quinces, but the dessert does look wonderful. Thank you for the kindness of your heart. Hugs

    ReplyDelete
  16. Great to be part of Marguerite Aberle's workshop too. I love autumn and painting is such a therapeutic way of celebrating it.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Beautiful... I love autumn too...

    ReplyDelete
  18. We are enjoying the first pinks, lavenders, whites of spring around here - I love your fall colors and love all the creative things you find to do! Great art!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi Jill, Your works are beautiful. You're such a fountain of creativity. You're inspiring me to take a watercolor art class myself. I remembet that the first time I heard about quince was from one of your previous post. I'm yet to see and try it. Your recipe certainly looks delicious.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I've never tried quince. You might just be my inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Jill, I so love how you go after your interests and actually do something about them --flamenco, and now, watercolors.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love that you got to do a workshop that you wanted to. Beautiful Autumn colours. I think I might have tried quinces before but I can't remember. One day we are planning on having a variety of fruit trees and some old varieties so maybe a quince tree will grow in our one day yard.

    ReplyDelete
  23. "Life Images by Jill" has been included in our A Sunday Drive for this week. Be assured that we hope this helps to point even more new visitors in your direction.

    http://asthecrackerheadcrumbles.blogspot.com/2015/04/a-sunday-drive.html

    ReplyDelete
  24. I have a quince tree but I NEVER get to eat the fruit from it - there are WAY too many sulphur crested cockies around for that!!! Quince jelly is my all time favourite thing to eat on scones, probably because I have it so rarely. This year I've had to 'make do' with my second favourite - melon, lemon and ginger jam!!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Lovely photos and enjoyable post. Happy Easter.

    ReplyDelete

I hope you have enjoyed your visit to my blog. Thank you for stopping by and for taking the time to comment. I read and very much appreciate every comment and love hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return.