I initially learned some cake decorating skills during my tour in the Navy on Ford Island, Pearl Harbor Hawaii in 1970. Being a novice at that time, I took a few classes in cake decorating and would pour over the Wilton Cake decorating yearbooks for ideas and supplies.
Working at Jensen’s Old Country Bakery in Blue Jay California after the service, I was able to put what I learned to use as well as learning a lot from the master baker at Jensen’s as well as learning some trade secrets pertaining to gingerbread house baking and decorating.
Since leaving the bakery in the late 1970’s I have always kept my cake decorating abilities sharp as a hobby. I have always volunteered to make birthday cakes and wedding cakes for family and friends always giving them as gifts. I have baked and decorated numerous wedding cakes all over Southern California including Mammoth Lakes as well as in Reno Nevada, my current home.
My desire has always been to make the cakes fresh the same day of the wedding and to the bride and groom’s specifications.
Several note able weddings I have done have been for Andrew and Dena Kastor in Mammoth Lakes. Andrew coaches the U.S. Olympic running team in the Mammoth Track Club and Dena holds many long distances American records from 5k to the marathon as well as a world record in the road 5k. Andrew was my coach when we lived in Mammoth.
Another more recent cake I did for my Pastors daughter was done with pine tree logs cut thinly as the base of the cake. Pictured below are a few of the cakes I have done over the years.
The picture of me is at the Santa Barbara Hilton beachfront resort for my granddaughter's wedding.