This Life Photography: December 2011

I recently went to Sanibel Island and something unexpected happened....

I rediscovered my love of photography.

It's not that I stopped loving it really, but what I didn't realize was that the passion that I first had for photography -- just for photography's sake -- had faded a little over time. Photography for no other reason than having a feeling about a place, and wanting to capture that feeling forever.

I wanted to capture a perfect Saturday spent in Sanibel.

Sanibel is famous for its seashells, and I brought plenty home with me to remind me of that perfect day. A day that started on the beach by the 120-year-old lighthouse located on the eastern tip of the island. I could have stayed there forever. The lighthouse is on a nature preserve, so there's not another building in sight other than the lighthouse and the caregiver's cottage.

So many things converge to make it a treat for the senses -- a constant seabreeze, the sound of the ocean waves, seagulls and pelicans flying overhead, the wind in the trees, majestic pieces of driftwood - and, of course, seashells as far as the eye can see.

Another place I visited during my perfect day in Sanibel was Surroundings by Melinda, which is a home decor shop that I've been visiting for 15 years or so - ever since it was located in Morgantown, West Virginia, where I used to live. I worked one block away, and I remember it was the perfect place to relax on my lunch hour - especially after a particularly stressful morning :-) I still treasure some things that I purchased at the shop all those years ago. In 2008, Surroundings moved to Sanibel Island. It is owned by Interior Designer Melinda Graham, who has appeared on national television shows, and whose home and shop have appeared in various magazines - and was most recently photographed for Romantic Homes Magazine. It is truly a showcase. Here's a peak at the "new" Surroundings by Melinda.

Surroundings is off the beaten path, tucked in among art galleries, and is just a short walk to the Gulf of Mexico.

Inside, it's filled with all sorts of treasures...

When you walk in, the air is filled with beautiful music, sea air and the scent of fresh flowers and potpourri. Old is mixed with new to create lovely vingettes.

I love the arrangement below. The gentle curve of the pottery against the detail of the gold framed mirror that reflects the muted colors of the boutique ... the ornate shelf ...

this arrangement is like a work of art!

Lovely flowers spilling out of baskets...

Bits of lace and pottery...

An antique bed with an inviting table setting ...

Ornate pottery...

Even little butterflies made of sheet music hang from the ceiling...

Melinda will also make custom wreaths, home decor and gifts. We went around the shop and picked out a few things, which she arranged to perfection within minutes into a unique gift.

My purchase, tied up with ribbon in a charming little bag...

Oh, and I can't forget to show you sweet little Peanut, who wandered into the shop one day and decided he was home. You'll find him either sunning himself on the deck or climbing around the shop trying to get your attention.

There are certain places you visit and you can just tell that someone has put their heart and soul into it. Surroundings by Melinda is one of those places.