Fall

I can tell Fall is here though we in So Florida will not be feeling any change in our weather for at least 6 weeks yet. I can tell because it is time to think about the replanting and buying of seeds for my garden. I can envision sitting out there tending to the new seedlings. Juan Carlos is already out there supervising some changes we are making. This year we will plant and plan together, as my dear friend tends to the seedlings as much if not more than me. It will bring me even greater joy to have a partner in building our paradise.

The college kids have long gone except my 2nd son who goes to a school on the quarter system. He will be leaving Wed. How a year changes things. Last year after leaving him up there for his freshman year I fell into such a funk, a true deep sadness. I am sure you could hear that very clearly in the blogs from last Sept. It was an unbearable sadness that took its time to dissipate. This year I am ready for him to go back. I understand that is where his life is, and I must start to work more and get back into my routine which I am starting to long for. I have to say it is great having a lunch partner everyday, but sometimes you just want that bowl of oatmeal

The next year that announces fall to me more than anything is football season, or in my house FOOTBALL SEASON!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am not a football fan, I know that sounds horrible, but just never happened for me. Huge conflict occurs each football season as the 5 men ( or less these days) want to stay in the house ALL day and watch game after game. This year I have decided not to fight it, with the clear understanding I am not staying in catering to all these males. I have gone into retirement. Today was the Miami Hurricane game. They had a ball and so did I. I decided to get new make up for the fall. I thought it looked great til I walked in the door and my son Kevin wanted to know what happened to me. My husband asked if I was going to wash it all off. The next son comes in and says I look very un yogi like. Perhaps, I just look like a football widow. To the fall and all that comes with it, I think I am actually going to love Sundays. xo ginny

Aging through the eyes of a daughter

We just returned from a beautiful trip to visit my folks in North Carolina. We hadn't seen them up there in a few years. We were overdue, even though they live most of the year in Miami with us, it brings them such joy when we see them there. Their love is their place up there. A very simple home with the most spectacular property. It is their pride and joy. The first month of calls we receive each summer is all about the blooming of their newly planted garden, the grass coming in fresh again like velvet. The pond with trout jumping, and the fruit trees loaded with buds. They have had this home for 29 years and the phone calls have a life and rhythm all their own. It is their story. It is the place where they watched their 17 year old develop a huge crush on the real estate agent showing them the property. They are still friendly with him to this day, and I always smile inside when I see him. Nice memories.

My brother, sister and I all loved that place, we brought our future spouses there, making the them pass the Appalachian ski slope test, even though none of them had ever skied before. Mine actually got removed from the mountain for reckless skiing, he wasn't reckless just trying not to die that day.

We took our babies there for their first trips. Our oldest went at 5 weeks, got his first cold at 5 weeks as well.

We had a nightmare occur there, when our 2nd son was thought to be dying as he slowly lost consciousness and help was too far away to call on. My husband and brother-in-law had just left that morning. I remember my sister and I laying over him, breathing into him, pushing on his chest as we laid him out on the grass. The trip down the mountain unending, he survived and went on to have no memories of that horrible night. As his mom, his memory keeper, I hold the scars just below the surface, something I was never the same after. Life actually became more fragile and sweet. The house in NC bore witness to that as well.

We brought the cousins together there and crowded all 9 of them into cribs, cots, rollaways, couches and beds. Those were the wild days. My parents were the proud, young, vital grandparents. Very much the matriarch and patriarch of this loud, boisterious crew. Soon the babies starting growing up a bit enough to cast fishing lines that caught more tree branches than fish. My father forever patient. Always he had everything ready for those boys, even built a basketball court when he thought that would keep them coming.

Life moved forward and my parents had to survive through the death of one of their own babes. They lost their oldest daughter to breast cancer. The house once again was witness to our life, and yet was no longer just a house it was all a home should be, lending comfort when my parents needed to retreat into themselves for a bit. It was the first place they turned to when they needed to be shielded. To turn into the arms of only each other. To be each other's balm and solace.

They have had annual July 4th parties for years until their friends had trouble driving over the rural mountain roads to get to my parents home. They would chuckle at how old their friends were getting. This trip it is the start of my parents turn. The steps are getting tough for my Dad. He holds on tight and forces himself to just keep going. My mom has mentioned the roads are getting a bit tough for my Dad...tears slip down my cheeks as I think of my hero, the love of my life receding into a place that even the house can't rescue him from, just comfort him a long his journey. Love you Mom and Dad. xo ginny

Wow Gables Engineering!!

Today I gave a lecture at Gables Engineering and discovered an incredible health package they offer their employees. They are the smart ones, as they realize when they offer workshops, pilates, yoga, spinning and a full facility gym their gain is their own. The allegiance and loyalty is strong, the people I met (about 25) were so grateful and on the path to better health. Sick days are down, as well as clothing sizes. It was an honor to speak there today. What an example they are. xo ginny

The cycle circles around once again

The end of August brings that mellow, sweet feeling to many of us that have school age kids. In my house, when we are home the days just drift, the house feels so different a place of refuge from the heat, from the frenetic pace of the normal routine. Some or all of the boys are home at different times, which means several friends in tow. The house sags into the summer, relaxed look of pillows scattered, throw blankets still thrown askew after a late movie was finished, reading lamps moved to the occupants comfort. It looks lived in, a house with stories to tell.

Well 3 are back in school with one more keeping my life still in part summer routine until he heads out in mid September. I feel life pulling in so many directions, and so I have decided this year to journal to keep me in tune with where I am in my space. To remember what is important, to stay in the moment, and to kick back and relax at times and remember that I am my own refuge. My pace is mine alone to live by.

Crossfit workout

Crossfit workouts, Muay Thai and yoga are taking over the boys summer. I thought though when we headed out on vacation together, which is part made up of a six day backroads multi sport vacation, the days would be filled with sightseeing, eating (this is the Simon boys after all) and the occasional run.

Life is the awareness of your surroundings and of course we happen to take the one street in Vancouver that has a crossfit gym. Before I knew it, Steve had signed up for a family crossfit session. I took advantage and signed up for an organic facial, at Skoah Spa in the Yaletown area of Vancouver. It was a beautiful experience, and I cannot wait to try my new products waiting for me at home. I have to tell you though my competive side came out and I decided I had to try the next crossfit workout the next day. It was tough, and I worked really hard, and yet I was so proud to be there hanging in and more. Came in third out of six and would have come in second, but needed to watch my son Kev to follow his lead as to the order of the workout. Yes, my trainer, Damian might point out as his does way too frequently, that I am horrible, and worse in following directions, oh, but in determination... I am a boys mom for sure, even though facials rank really, really high for me. Crossfit, yoga, and my men...perfection. Thank you for the spirituality, knowledge and gratitude of knowing when life is truly beautiful...in whatever source you believe. Once again this week thank you for letting me flow. xo ginny

Yoga with Michael and Kevin

Ok as I told you in a blog just past the prior one, I have patiently been waiting (or so I would say) for one of my family members to do yoga with me. I have given up on Steve, though life is long and as he always tells me, I am never allowed to say never in our life together. I thought the moment truly would not come...and yet today I found myself in Flow Wellness in Vancouver renting 3 mats, and laying down mats on either side of me for two of my guys. I was so honored and excited I could barely contain myself, as my boys might have mentioned a couple of times. I decided to leave far behind my tendency to hover, leave my mothering behind and go to the place I love... my space, my me time...just me and my mat deep into my personal space. My thoughts, my breath, my private soul. They more then survived the class, they made themselves into better people this morning. They did what their bodies wanted of them, what their souls asked of them, and where their mind found peace. As I lay in deep relaxation at the end of class, when thoughts are supposed to float way , my mind went to the gratefulness of the moment, and I remembered to note in that moment in time I felt so very blessed. Thank you Michael and Kevin.

xo Mom

The Power of family vacations

As you probably know by now there are four Simon kids, all boys ranging in age from just about 22 to 15. From afar we are a powerful group, very into each other, physically strong and vital appearing. Yes I get pride out of the heads they turn when the four are together. I am their mom after all. Each of course has their roles to play.

Scott, the oldest, the Bad ass kid as he refers to himself. (mostly big talker the rough days are long gone) he is the family protector G-d forbid he believes someone messes with any of his family members, especially his mom...(maybe he watched too many G-d father movies).

Michael comes next he is the Atlas Shrug of the group. The Thinker, he even strokes his chin in that just in deep thought action. He takes care of things, actually probably more responsible then any of us except his Dad. We try to loosen him up and he tries to make us grow up. (yes a possible role reversal going on)

Mark is very cerebral, not quite here with the rest of us. He lives in his own world and likes it there. I believe though some of my deepest most interesting conversations come when with alone with him. He tries to hide it but he feels and thinks with such sensitivity, he feels everything digests it thoroughly, and slowly lets you into his thoughts with great awareness.

Kevin, is the most like me. He lives his life with passion, believes others around him will take care of and sweat the small stuff for him. It is that baby position. He truly works so hard though on anything he feels warrants it, he is an athlete through and through, and his smile lights up any room. He treats a woman with such charisma and charm, trouble brewing...

It is such an honor then to get to spend two weeks traveling the 6 of us. I am so honored to be their mom, and they know I feel that way. They truly cherish one another and talk all the time about how we are the greatest family. To us we are, and I hope all of you have the same good fortune to feel that way about yours. Just today I was saying to my men, feel the gratitude of being altogether here in this place at this moment in time. If I have had one major gift to have given my family it is the mindfulness of the sweet moments we live. xo ginny

Yoga and the boys

I have always wanted my boys to do yoga with me, so when one of the boy's school coach called to say that over the summer he wanted my son doing yoga to loosen and stretch my his hamstrings I was overjoyed. I have always pushed for them to add yoga to their physical regimen, but could not overcome their macho attitude towards it. I believe this started because I did not introduce my husband properly into yoga. I kind of threw him in and he was not comfortable. Unfortunately he got really turned off and never looked back. My boys picked up on his attitude, and like many other things in my male dominated household decided yoga was for women.

Things have changed...when one started another of my boys decided too as well. They are loving it. The boys are now telling their father and brothers how incredible yoga is. It is such music to my ears. They have decided it feels incredible and their muscles actually do get sore and stretched from practicing. Tomorrow, I can't wait, we are doing a power yoga class together. What a joy it will be sharing in the experience. I have waited a long time for this...I'll let you know after class about our Vancouver yoga experience. xo ginny

Musings

I came home from Yoga today and heard voices from the kitchen, and there was a very typical scene, people eating around the table. Lunch was out, kids, friends and my husband gathered. I was proud of what was pulled from the refrig as I looked around. Lots of color, lots of veggies and salad. Funny though there was a college girl there who I knew, but couldn't quite place and my son Scott, to make sure I was not going to blow anything says her name in super speed and then progresses to tell me I have known her forever. That said, I couldn't ask too many questions as I didn't know where to begin. Well within minutes all the males at the table popped up to do boy stuff on the boat. I am left sitting with this person of which I didn't even catch her name. Within seconds she is introducing herself and asking whether she should call me Mrs Simon, (that was a quick no!) I was so glad I hadn't lost my mind , but actually had never really officially met her before. Yes I am sure she has been in my house quite a bit, with four kids that is the life we encourage. Alexandra (Nani) turned out to be precious and within moments together we were baking up the Chocolate Chip Cherry Love Cookies, and talking about Mindful Organics. (I was so happy her Aunts knew my products sell at The Workout Spot in Coconut Grove)

Cooking I have decided is probably the most relaxed and at times intimate way to get to know someone. I was honored today to have Nani cook with me, and then watch in 30 seconds two dozen cookies gone. Isn't life sweet. xo ginny

Papaya and more papaya

This past year as the organic garden was going in and Juan Carlos was living at my house it seemed, ( I loved it-hope it happens again JC) we planted some fruit trees as well. Bananas, papayas, meyer lemon, key limes, pineapple, kumquats and tangerines. I was watching and watching and you the know the expression, a watched pot never boils...well I didn't look for about 2 weeks and 2 days ago I pulled off two grand papayas! Ripe, huge and just gorgeous. Well I like papayas, for their health benefits which are many, and like the taste, however for some reason I cannot get enough of these two. I believe as with the garden that when something comes from your land and you know how it was grown, clean and pure, the pride is immense and the flavors are so much more intense when no pesticides are used.

I guess the body is talking and I am listening...I have eaten both of these two papyas within 2 days. I go to bed thinking about them and wake up heading straight for the kitchen to make another papaya smoothie. My simple recipe is as follows...(though you can add any fruit you desire such as mango and pineapple with a little banana, that would be incredible as well)

1 cup papaya to 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, 1/4 of a banana, 1 tsp flaxseed oil and 1 tsp coconut oil with some ice blended in. I have lived on this and some fresh juicing the last 2 days. I feel like I am glowing with great health as papaya is full of anti-oxidants, beta-carotene, vitamins C, A, and the B vitamins, folate, minerals, potassium, and magnesium, as well as fiber. It also carries digestive enzymes within it, similiar to pineapple. Our body has a lot to teach us about eating well. We just need to listen. xo ginny

ps if your hands turn a little orange from all the beta-carotene- no worries...