Afterthought #86 – More From Heidi Barr

Earlier this month I celebrated Heidi Barr’s new book, What Comes Next, (you can read my post, After the Pink Slip, to learn more about it). I keep discovering how much Heidi and I have in common. I first “met” Heidi (so far, only through her writing and online communication) when I learned we share the same publisher and “book birthdays.”
Her essay collection, Woodland Manitou, was released in 2017 by Homebound Publications within days of my memoir, Hiking Naked.

I found a kindred spirit when I read her essays and her blog. No surprise, when you read how she describes herself:

“As a mother, spouse, gardener, and writer, I am committed to cultivating ways of being that are life-giving and sustainable for people, communities and the planet. I love putting words together to paint pictures of ideas, as well as walking with others as they explore what it means to live well on a finite planet. Hiking through forests and across prairies, wading in streams, digging in the soil and surrounding myself with natural wonder help me stay grounded in reality. I currently work as a wellness coach, occasionally coordinate with yoga teachers and organic farms to offer retreat experiences, write books, and through all of that, strive to give voice to stories that need to be told.”

I’ve also learned that Heidi is a mindful cook, and she shares that gift regularly in her column, “The Mindful Kitchen,” in The Wayfarer Magazine.  You’ll find a spring recipe for risotto with foraged spring greens in the latest issue.

Seems like a delicious way to end March.

*Afterthoughts are my blog version of a practice followed in some Quaker meetings. After meeting for worship ends, people continue in silence for a few more minutes during which they’re invited to share thoughts or reflect on the morning’s worship. I’ve adopted the form here for last-day-of-the-month brief reflections on headlines, quotes, books, previous posts, maybe even bumper stickers and refrigerator magnets.