I remember us having a tiny little apple tree when I was growing up. It was no more than few centimeters and I can’t remember that it ever growing any bigger. It had been planted underneath our red currant bush that wasn’t particularly big either. This is the thing about Iceland, trees (and plants in general) don’t grow that easily and very slowly if they grow at all. I think it must have been one of my older sisters that planted that apple tree. It was planted under the red currant bush to be protected from the harsh weather. The bush was partially surrounded by our rhubarb patch as well which gave it additional protection. It took me thirty something years to finally realize that its placement was kind of odd. What would have happened had it actually grown? Would we have cut down red currant bush? It is a bit sacrilegious to cut down bushes and trees in Iceland since it takes so long to grow them so I am pretty sure this would have become a dilemma. I guess everyone must have just assumed that it would never survive. I have to ask them about this one day 🙂 .
It was the craziness of my garden that got me thinking about this little apple tree I had had forgotten. Having a garden in Norway is something completely different from having a garden in Iceland. Here you must trim trees and bushes and weed constantly. I think I ripped up three red currant bushes that had spread themselves during my last weeding round. It is a bit difficult to get used when you come from a place like Iceland but I am becoming more brutal every day.
We don’t have a apple tree in our garden but our neighbour has one. It is absolutely beautiful every spring when it blossoms and reminds me of my childhood dreams of having fruit trees. I am fine with it being my neighbours as I have grown allergic to apples in my older years but I am tempted to plant my own and see how fast it grows.
It is finally summer time and I have been in dress making mood. I feel like I must make them before my little girl grows too old for cute little dresses. This is the first one out of the Hanami dress by Straight Grain. I really like the fit of this dress and I think it is really cute with its flutter sleeves and a low waste. Size 5T fit perfectly and it was nice to get a pattern with European measurements for a change. The pattern instructions were straightforward with the exception of the zipper placement instructions being a bit confusing (or at least to me). The fabric I bought long time ago and was the part of the first fabric line I completely fell in love with and HAD TO HAVE. It is the Fiji from the Happy Mochi Yum Yum line by Monica Solorio. I made this dress from the same line couple of years ago. I lined the sleeves with grey cotton from Stoff og Stil, added piping to the waist to get some contrast and made a little bow. I am quite happy with the result but then again I love anything yellow!
Hanami is according to Wikipedia the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the beauty of (cherry blossom) flowers. It felt fitting to “steal” the neighbours apple tree that was in bloom for a little photo session.
Gorgeous! The dress, the girl and the tree 🙂
Takk 🙂 !
So cute. I think I must try that pattern. And your photos are beautiful.