I was born and raised in Riceboro Georgia.
Growing up in a house with eight brothers
and no sisters was quite interesting.
You see, I always wanted to be outdoors with the boys but,
my father (Henry) would always sternly tell me,
“Go back in the house and help your Mama”, (Louise).

Even though I didn’t like what it was that they were doing outside,
all of them working in the fields
I just wanted to be with the crowd and not miss out on anything.
After a few times of “Go back in the house”,
and it turning more demanding each time I went out,
to finally into an abrupt “Get Back Into That House”,
I decided one day to stay in and watch Mama.
That day working in the kitchen I initially thought was so boring.
But, that day did make an imprint on me.

Mama was baking that day
and I attentively watched her
as she ever so carefully measured and mixed things together
in such a fashion that it was much like that of a love relationship.
But, I was thinking to myself and asked Mama,
“Why don’t you just dump all the eggs in at one time
and beat everything together at one time.”
I can still hear her say,
“No baby, maybe some cakes you can do that with,
but, not this cake.”
She proceeded to explain why not and stated,
“You have to know your cakes”.
Well, she made that day in the kitchen end up being very interesting after all
and rewarding too
because she let me lick the bowl.
And that was the day,
and no not the day that "the lights went out in Georgia"
but the day that Romancing Your Cakes was born.



Henrietta and her son Don.