“When my father was in the Navy, my mom taught cake decorating in Hawaii at Pearl Harbor. It wasn’t long before I got involved. I’ve been making cakes since I was in the eighth grade.

“When you have three kids you make their birthday cakes, and it just grows from there. I made all of their wedding cakes, too.

“I worked for a doctor for many years, but then I got too busy making cakes so I had to give that up.

“I have two kitchens at my home. In my lifetime I’ve probably baked thousands of cakes, and I try to take pictures of all of them.

“I used to be a caterer. I would be able to make four or five birthday cakes, and a wedding cake and a groom’s cake, and do all the food and everything in a weekend. I can’t do that anymore.

“I turned 70 in July. I say I’m trying to retire, but it’s not working. I’m still baking cakes.”

— Hattie Surles

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“My husband passed away last year, so my daughter is helping me downsize to an apartment. Making the move was kind of stressful, especially giving up my kitchen and big refrigerator.

“I make cakes on the side. It’s not really a business. More like a friends and family bakery. I do all sorts of cake designs, but I don’t do wedding cakes. I’m scared of bridezillas.”

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