Ed works with an elder care lawyer named Pam and she has a friend, a major traditional painter and sculptor,Adolf Sehring, and Ed is trying to get his works represented by our friend, Terry, who is connected to many galleries in New York and nationwide.

So today we drove out to his house with Pam leading the way. It is north of Charlotte Harbor, and as we wound our way through an incredibly beautiful but definitely rural road route, I said to Ed, “this is an adventure.”

Adolf is in his 80s, in a wheelchair. He was affable, but feeling his years. And his wife says he no longer paints. But he said he does.

I sure wish I had my camera with me. The house was incredible -- 6,000 sq. feet on 20 acres, with a huge pond surrounded by woods and with islands in it that make it look like a Louisiana bayou. Paintings, sculptures, and antiques. It has 6 bedrooms 5 baths, sunken living room, 50 foot pool, incredible lawns and paved walkways. Mary, his wife of 10 years, about 35 years younger, said she often rows out to the nearest island to tend to the overgrowth and to just sit. There is a table with chairs for lounging.

The painter, Adolf Sehring, is the only American artist to be commissioned by the Vatican to paint the official portrait of Pope John Paul II. The Pope sat for him. I saw a print. The original is hanging in the Vatican. It is an incredible portrait. It brings the pope to life, and the face is incredibly human.

For some pictures of his work, Google his name.

After we left, Ed and I stopped in Punta Gorda for a drunch – my word for I am not cooking tonight because we are eating so late. I had blackened shrimp in a pita wrap – it was great. I took half home and told Ed he could have it because he needs more food than I do.

Ed had a greens salad with grilled duck in it. Ed loves duck. Ed would have liked more duck than he got. So it goes.

xx, Teal