By Cindy Adams
It all started with her nephew 11 years ago. His first birthday cake was a disaster and Jeanette Vaught vowed not to let that happen again. It is just a cake, of course, but it’s the centerpiece of someone’s celebration. It speaks, "you are special, you are loved."
This event set a course for Jeanette who has been a caregiver most of her life, both personally and professionally. She currently manages enCircle’s Chapman House in Salem where her "four ladies" reside. She cares deeply for each one, as well as others who live in group homes throughout southwest Virginia. And, as you might guess, she expresses it through cakes.
"I’ve always been interested in cooking and baking," Jeanette said. "I watch cooking shows, but I really learn through trial and error. The worst thing I ever did was buy pre-made frosting. Now, I make everything from scratch."
Before she owned the tools of the trade – molds, airbrushes – she hand sculpted and hand painted everything. A true labor of love, but these early cakes are some of her favorites. And despite the many cakes she has given, she is still surprised by the joy her creations evoke.
"It is especially rewarding at enCircle," she says. "When I made Alan a Spider-Man cake for his 70th birthday, he was so happy."
Her cakes take about six hours to make but she says it is worth it, especially for people like Alan.
Alan says it’s the best cake he has ever received.
Jeanette also made Angela’s 30th birthday cake. Angela is one of Jeanette’s “four ladies” who lives in the house she manages. The three-layer cake was two layers of strawberry cake and one layer of cheesecake, all covered in blue flowers and butterflies. In September, she made six personalized cakes for the six birthdays in enCircle’s southwest Virgina group homes. She transported them three at a time from her home in Christiansburg, 45 minutes away.
"I like the creative side of making cakes," Jeanette said. "And the one thing I have found that all our folks have in common is they love to eat."
Her birthday cakes are more than just food, however. Each one is specifically created to reflect the uniqueness of the person being celebrated. It is her way of saying, "you are special, you are loved" and, based on the reaction, the message is most certainly received.
