Charbonneau News

THE "YAYAS" DO NATCHEZ

Dodie, Ruth, Janna and I had a whirlwind holiday in Natchez this past week. The weather couldn't have been better - I ordered it specially for the girls. We had a great time touring all the antebellum homes and eating evening meals at Monmouth and Stanton Hall. And - our long nightly cocktail therapy sessions were long overdue! We just had a great time being together.

The "YaYas" at Gloucester Plantation

Ruth and General Quitman - namesake of her hometown

Longwoood Plantation - the most fascinating!

We do lunch at "Mammy's"

Our last night in front of the hotel

A Baby Shower for Kate

Kate's friends, Dana and Brett, gave her a baby shower this past Sunday at the Charbonneau's home. It looked like an early Christmas with all the presents generous friends and relatives gave her. Gareth's parents flew in to Niceville from Swansea on Friday afternoon and Kate & Gareth drove them to Hattiesburg on Saturday, jet-lag and all ,to be here for the Sunday shower. Angela flew from Ft. Worth as a surprise to Kate. It was a great shower and Kate and Gareth appreciated all the gifts for their baby girl.

Kate

Angela, Kate & Sonia

Angela acting as Kate's scribe - Nia is sitting beside Angela

Kate showing off Nia's handknit baby sweater

Gareth inspecting all the baby clothes after the shower

The cute Christmas outfit was from Sonia and Patrick

TRIP TO WALES & ENGLAND

We returned last Sunday from a great visit with Rodger and Nia in Swansea and the wedding of Karen Lee & Stephen Guilfoyle in Manchester. While in Swansea we visited the National Waterfront museum, a really wonderful museum that tells the story of innovation and industry in Wales over the last 300 years. One day we drove to Cardiff to visit the Welsh Heritage Museum - buildings and cottages were moved and rebuilt in this beautiful setting on the grounds of an old castle. Unfortunately, we did not take our camera that day - jet lag must have played into that.

Later in the week Nia took us to Carreg Cennen Castle in Carmarthenshire north of Swansea. We took the scenic route over the mountains with lots of "diversions". The drive up reminded me of driving half a century ago in the Blue Ridge mountains when there was little or no traffic and some roads unpaved. Carreg Cennen, one of the most spectacularly sited Welsh castles , sits atop a mountain with 360 degree views for miles. The castle remains that we see today date to the 13th century and the castle building efforts of King Edward 1st. The site was occupied earlier by Romans and prehistoric peoples.

Rodger and Nia drove us to Manchester on Friday. Their daughter, Lisa, and husband, Paul, recently bought a home in the Manchester area ( about 1/2 way between Liverpool and Manchester ). This was the Woods' first visit to see the children since their move from Bristol. We enjoyed seeing Lisa and having a tour of their lovely new home. After our quick visit with Lisa, the family drove us to catch the fast rail into Manchester City Center.

We spent Friday evening visiting with Karen Lee, the bride-to-be, Pete and Janet Lee, Hazel Lee, Karen's sister, and a few friends.

It had been 2 years since our last visit with the Lees - and it seemed we all talked at once trying to catch-up. The wedding of Karen and Steve was on Saturday afternoon at the Lowery Hotel in Manchester. Karen was a beautiful bride - Steve was a "glowing" bridegroom! The Lowery did an outstanding job with the wedding arrangements - and the photographer was a "hoot" as he marshaled the wedding party and guests into different poses. Pete and Janet - if you're reading this - you two looked great!

And one last note: The weather the whole time we were in the UK was beautiful -mostly sunny, no rain, and warm. We had a really great time!

Steve & Karen

The Doctors' Guilfoyle signing the register

Karen with Marty and Paul

Karen & Steve cut the cake

The two sisters - Karen & Hazel

The three old ladies: Shelia, Marty & Janet

Lisa & Paul's new home in Manchester

[ Lisa with her parents, Rodger & Nia ]

Nia & Marty at the Castle

Nia & Paul

View from inside castle

Nia puts Paul in the stocks!

Paul & Nia in front of Plas Gwyn, the Wood's home

New Car and Twins' Haircuts

Know it's been quite awhile since I last posted - just can't get myself to sit long enough to put it all together. I would have probably postponed putting up pictures here if Dodie hadn't asked to see my new frivolous purchase - a Toyota Solara convertible. I started making noises last winter about having a convertible, but whined that I would feel "guilty" about buying one. Paul kept prodding me and I think at one point he hinted that if I didn't buy the car of my choice, he would get himself something. Guess that tipped me over the edge - and I found my car through the Internet in Sarasota. I love it - but here in MS, you don't drive with the top down in the middle of the day in the summer. I expect come Fall - my top will stay down a good bit.

Another milestone for the twins happened this past week - their first haircuts. The boys were really good and Pat & Jane, who have been cutting Charbonneaus for years, did a great job! The better pictures of the Hair-Cuts are on Patrick/Sonia's blog - take a look.

Marty's new plaything !

Philip gets his first haircut from Pat at PJ's Salon

William's hair is being cut by Jane

Pat gets "loving" from Philip

Jane says good-by to William & Sonia

Typical new-parent pose !

We Hit the Beach !

It's been awhile since a posting - I guess it shows how laid back I've become over the past few months. Anyway - we had a really great visit with Ruth and John at Alligator Point. The weather was absolutely superb!!! And plenty of good food with good friends. It really doesn't get much better than this.

After our visit to the Point - we moissed on over to Niceville to be with Kate and Gareth for Father's Day weekend. Once again the weather held - and we had a wonderful weekend with the kids - and really enjoyed their pool. I think I miss having a pool. I so enjoyed the one we had at the farm.

Kate is feeling great and we had news this week that the baby most certainly will be a girl. I'm already thinking pink - as are the YaYas who have been commenting!

Marty & Ruth soaking up the rays at the Point

Paul & John

Paul and his friends - Book & Beer !

CATCH - UP

It's been quite awhile since I've blogged anything at all. Seems like there wasn't time or inclination to sit down and post anything. I think Ruth got me started by asking about pictures from Rusty and Shari's wedding.

After Paul and I returned from our Sicily trip at the end of February, we left in mid-March for Kentucky and the wedding of Ruth and John's son, Rusty to Shari. We had a great time - a wonderful wedding. Our only set-back was car trouble Big Time. We extended our stay in KY and with the rental car and became tourists for a few days. We toured and stayed in Bardstown at one of the oldest on-going inns in the US, visited the Trappist Monestary of Gethesemene ( Thomas Merton's place ), Marker's Mark Distillery, the Patton and Armaments Museum in Ft. Knox, and one of the Mammouth caves ( we did the cave tour with Ruth, John, Ray and Dodie ). Turned out to be a great vacation and Ford Motors finally reimbursed part of our car repair.

We made a short visit to see Kate and Gareth for her birthday in late March - Had a nice evening with them and their good friends, Luke and Amber ( both in K & G's wedding ). I guess we're home for awhile and will re-group! Marty

Kate & Gareth in front of their new home in Niceville

Kate, Paul, Luke, Gareth & Amber

Kate's birthday dinner - March 26

Aunt Nelee turns 92 - March 24

Our Zona and Angela - early March

Len, Janna, Rusty the Groom, Marty & Dodie

The girls kicking back

Ruth & John with the newly weds - Shari & Rusty

Standing in front of the 2nd oldest Inn in KY ( circa 1779 )

Paul at Maker's Mark Distillery, Loretto, KY

Sicily

We just got back from a great winter trip to Sicily. We also got a day and a half in Rome,an overnight in Sorrento with a half day on Capri , and an unexpected side trip to Pompeii on our way down the coast to Sicily. We toured with Trafalgar ( same company we did the Ireland trip with in 2005 ) with a very diverse and interesting bunch. We especially enjoyed the company of an Australian couple about our age, a Malaysian couple and a couple from Singapore. The weather could have been better - we had cloudy and sometimes rainy weather the whole time. The trade-off; however, was that we had Sicily practically to ourselves. We did see other tour groups ocassionally - but at most historical sites, we were the only ones there. It was great to tour and look around the Greek temples with so few around. We packed a lot into the 10 day tour - our head is still swimming! The food at sites other than the hotels was excellent - we enjoyed the local cuisine very much along with all the Sicilian wine and olive oil. Below are just a few of the many pictures we took - we won't bore you. If you really want an overview of Sicily - we'll haul out our photo CD when you come to visit. And next we have our sights on Australia and New Zeeland ---------Whenever!

Caio - Paul and Marty