Tag Archives: family

Thanksgiving Reflections: On Being Seriously Grateful, and Finding Contentment

Posted on November 22, 2012 by The Retiring Sort

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough” – Oprah Winfrey “It isn’t what you have or who you are or where you … Continue reading →

Posted in Ruminations | Tagged choices, Contentment, family, Gratitude, lifestyle, retirement, Thanksgiving | 31 Comments

To Every Thing There is a Season…

Posted on October 2, 2012 by The Retiring Sort

Maybe it’s that I’m retired and have time to think about these things. Maybe it’s that my mom, the last of my kids’ grandparents, passed away this year. Maybe it’s that it’s a gray Autumn day, and I’m feeling it … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Retirement itself, Ruminations, Writing Challenges | Tagged aging, change, DPchallenge, Ecclesiastes, family, lifestyle, photos, postaweek, Seasons, Senior Health | 52 Comments

Cultivating a Disciplined Free Spirit

Posted on September 1, 2012 by The Retiring Sort

Is it responsible to be a truly free spirit? Flying like a kite, mindless of anything but the currents that carry us to the next adventure? Even a kite is tethered to a string. Without the resistance pulling on that … Continue reading →

Posted in Photo Challenges, Ruminations | Tagged family, Free Spirit, Last EasterLast Easter, lifestyle, Parenting, photography, photos, postaday, postaweek, Self-discipline, Weekly Photo Challenge | 54 Comments

Weekly Photo Challenge: Purple

Posted on July 28, 2012 by The Retiring Sort

This week’s WordPress.com Photo Challenge is Purple. Purple means something special to me – it was my mother’s favorite color. I can remember picking wild violets in our yard, bringing them in to her when I was small, proudly adding a … Continue reading →

Posted in Photo Challenges | Tagged family, Hampton Court Palace, Memories, Mother, photography, photos, postaday, postaweek, Purple, Violet | 80 Comments

Maggie the Magnificent – Redux

Posted on July 16, 2012 by The Retiring Sort

On Mother’s Day, I posted an homage to my mom, Maggie, citing some of the reasons she has been a wonderful role model to my sister and me. This week, she passed away with the same grace and thoughtfulness she displayed throughout … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Ruminations | Tagged A Wee Deoch an' Doris, family, Farewell, Gaelic, Good-bye, Harry Lauder, Maggie, Mother, Passages, Scottish | 50 Comments

Travel theme: Parks

Posted on June 26, 2012 by The Retiring Sort

Ailsa at Wheresmybackpack posted a fun photo challenge to bloggers this week: Parks. There are so many wonderful parks in the world, and in the US alone, that it will be fascinating to see the responses she gets. For me, it … Continue reading →