Carol Coudert
Susan Eastman
How would you like to live in Europe for a year? That question was put to Carol Coudert shortly after she and husband, Ernie, bought their house in PebbleCreek. Ernie had been offered a position with NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, as a civilian financial analyst. The contract term was actually four years, and similar to the experience the family had in the 1980s when posted in the Hague for three years. Fantastic, they thought, and off to a smaller village in the Netherlands where Ernie worked on AWAKS related systems.
During this time, Carol had many diplomatic responsibilities that focused on the cultural interplay among the numerous and diverse nations represented in the NATO community. The network of womens’ groups facilitated communication to build bridges among nations. Opportunities to share values and traditions of the rich heritages of its members were sponsored by individual countries through luncheons, dinners, and special events to promote regional understanding.
When not bound by heavy schedules, Carol and Ernie traveled extensively throughout Europe by car. From Holland, it was an easy drive into Berlin, Germany, down to Frankfurt, and Munich then to Vienna, Austria. On other trips they were able to explore Switzerland and Italy. Carol’s Italian heritage played into their decision to explore the cities and countryside of Italy often. Other excursions took them west to Spain and Portugal, and included cruises along the Rhine through Alsace, Provence, to Barcelona. Carol and Ernie shared a spectacular four-year assignment committed to U.S. interests in the defense of NATO allies and the furtherance of its diplomatic mission.
Returning to PebbleCreek in 2010, Carol busied herself creating a comfortable retirement home, making new friends, and playing golf four times a week. It was then she also discovered ceramics.
Among her more recent projects is a vase painted in acrylics that features a large floral bouquet set off by a black background. Another of her creations is a large white serving bowl with yellow edging and a vine surround. In keeping with the theme of serving dishes, Carol sponged a white pie plate red that she uses for pie making. There is also a large bread basket painted beige that she over glazed with a dark brown stain then wiped to achieve the look of woven wicker. Once kiln fired these articles are food safe and ready for use in her kitchen.
Of all the projects she has created, what gives Carol the most pleasure are the friends she’s made—the conversations, tears, laughter, and comfort in the company of others while united in the artistic expression that is ceramics.