and now for something completely different.

Well...at least I think it's going to be different.  I started this blog in June of last year (2013) to document the transition to my natural grey hair after dying it for almost 30 years. As it turns out, the transition happened faster than I thought it would (at least in hindsight), and I'm not sure I have too much more to say on the matter (other than I'm very pleased with the way it turned out, it definitely is a freeing experience, and it has played a big part in my personal evolution - not only physically, but also emotionally, and dare I say even...spiritually?)

Ta-Da!! I'm done! 

I could continue to explore the minutiae of my thoughts on going grey/silver/platinum/white - but during the course of my transition, I came across several other women, who are already doing that, and doing it well.  No need for me to clutter up the blogosphere with another blog extolling the virtues of going grey - Denise and Lauren have that covered beautifully.  I could expand on the theme, and talk about the challenges and triumphs of growing old gracefully, but Cindy OWNS that corner of the market - and she's developed a wonderful "BOOMing" business in the process (yes, of course I use her products, and I wholeheartedly endorse them!) Besides, it's not like I'm burning up bandwidth hammering out blog posts every minute (or even once a day - or even once a month...yeah, you get the picture).  And although it surprises me to no end, I haven't yet had Hollywood come knocking at my door asking me to adapt my 4-5 posts into a riveting screenplay describing what it's like to be a middle-aged woman who has decided to go grey (ahem, YET). ;-)

So...where to go from here? As I said in my first post, I've started numerous blogs in the past, and they all fizzled away into nothingness.  Why?  Too lazy, too busy, not enough subject matter...the list goes on.  I really was determined to make something of this blog though.  So tonight, I'm here to announce (cue trumpet fanfare!) that I'm not giving up.  It's not that I'm going to completely abandon the topics of grey hair, growing older, female empowerment, etc. - I'm just going to embellish those topics a bit - with other topics that interest me, such as enjoying the outdoors, design, photography, travel, music, style preferences, recipes, etc.  (This is where I should probably mention that I am a fresh graduate of the Academy of Culinary Nutrition - yep, that makes me a Certified Culinary Nutrition Expert, peeps!) - schooled by the indomitable and contagiously positive Meghan Telpner).  So yeah - I do know a thing or two about how to milk almonds!!

That's me!! :) 

Basically then, what we have here is a blog about nothing - and everything.  Just a great big personal mish-mash of the day-to-day.  Yep, you got it folks - yet another exercise in virtual narcissism (which, when you come right down to it, is what blogs are, right?)  "Here I am!"  "Look at MY house!" "Look where I'VE travelled!"  Granted, some do it far better than others.  Some bloggers even become like friends, and you look forward to receiving an email indicating they've penned a fresh post, such as Sarah, Rachel, and  Angela.  In the case of those three lovely ladies, not only do they write posts on topics that interest me (interior design, DIY projects, crocheting, cooking and eating plant-based, whole foods) - but they do it with a refreshing writing style.  Their messages are delivered in a believable, authentic tone - yes, they're still saying "here I am, look at me, look at my house, look at my life", but they're doing it in a way that is not only informative, but entertaining.  Because those girls can WRITE. They're funny, they're fresh, they're inspiring - and part of the reason I'm going to keep on keepin' on here - because if there actually is ONE thing I enjoy doing, it's writing.

So there you have it.  To summarize:  I'm a grey-haired, middle-aged woman, who can not only cook up a mean vegan chili, but can photograph the heck out of it:

Preferably, I'd like to be cooking/food-styling/taking photos in locations such as this:

Val d'Orcia, Tuscany

Or even this:

Varadero, Cuba

Or perhaps more realistically, this:

Muskoka, Ontario

...while listening to a few favourite musicians such as: 

Sting, John Mayer, Michael Franti

(See what happened there????  I told you about things I like, while showing you a few places I've travelled, and photos I've taken??? Tricky, huh???) heh heh....

Well, so be it.  It's my blog, and I can do what I want. ;-)  But truly, what I really am is a frustrated writer - so I'm just going to plod along, using this blog as an outlet to do just that, on whatever topic may inspire me in the moment.  I've given up trying to hone in on one topic that interests me, because I'm a person of MANY interests (although there are a few that remain near the top of my list).  Try as I might to discover my "passion" or "purpose" in life, there's just no getting around the fact that maybe I haven't found it yet.  Or - maybe I have....??? :)

My favourite writer, Elizabeth Gilbert, recently posted this on her Facebook page: 

Along with the above graphic, she also shared her thoughts on how "Passion is rare; curiosity is everyday", and that "the curiosity will eventually lead you to the passion".  (You can read her whole post here).  As I replied to her, I keep waiting for my "passion" to hit me over the head and reveal itself, as the almost daily pressure to "follow it" seems like the impossible dream at times.  As such, I've come to the conclusion that I've just got to stop overthinking it, and simply live my life doing what I enjoy, as much (and as realistically), as I am able.   And I think writing this post tonight has been a very good start. :)