Last weekend we were downtown for dinner, and friends who lived but a stroll away from the restaurant invited us over for dessert. We said yes (obviously) and were treated to her family's traditional birthday cake, Flo Braker's Butter Almond Cake. She served it with boozy cherries and whipped cream served from her bar cart, which for the evening had been transformed into a dessert trolley. It was absolutely charming. My husband is very fond of almond cake and he said this was the best. The recipe can be found in Flo's book, "The Simple Art of Perfect Baking" but an almost exact adaptation is linked here.

This is my idea of fun! It’s like a reunion tour with old projects, plus a reality check on what I actually own. Each year I decide which projects are ready for a comeback, which can continue to sleep, and which ones are finally ready to exit stage left. I have to keep up the habit, too, because I’m still adding new projects to the mix and have no desire to let my crafty room become overwhelming again. 

This year was different, no trash, instead I found treasure: three projects I started more than twenty-five years ago and then set aside. Twenty-five years is ancient in craft years, yet these have held up beautifully. They’re still adorable! It felt like the sewing-room equivalent of finding a twenty-dollar bill in an old coat pocket. Read on to see what I uncovered.

The blanket is the star of today’s post, but it’s not the only thing going on. Stick around for the full story behind the knitting, plus cookies, soup, flowers, and a few other bits. This one’s a full plate—being frugal and using up what we have in the best way.