What's going on

in December

Here are some of the things, in no particular order.

1. I started a new job four weeks ago, and it’s been a little like stepping into an alternative world. What is this ‘leave the house daily’ routine? November is a tricky time to start a 9-5 sort of schedule since daylight hours correspond almost 100% with time you are supposed to be indoors working. It’s been an adjustment, but one that’s going alright, maybe even better than expected. I do wish my office had a window to the outside, instead of just to the fitness center. I’m having a few flashbacks to my very first job out of college, in 2002, when I was a personal trainer at Lifetime Fitness in St. Paul. I lasted at that job, which was a 1-9pm shift in what at the time was a basement facility with no windows, for about 8 months before quitting to be the naturalist at a camp in Colorado.

2. My new place of employment is only three miles away from home— it’s literally the closet place I could work that’s not working from my home office. There are miles of trails through pine forests onsite, which I’m very grateful for. The buildings have beautiful huge windows that overlook a lake, and I don’t spend all of my time IN the office that overlooks the fitness center (which does have windows to the outside). I can go home for lunch or walk the trails, and I’ve already seen an owl, a fox, and plenty of oddly tame deer while exploring the grounds. I think I’ll stay awhile.

Here’s one of them, just chilling next to the parking lot.

3. A trumpeter swan slammed into our bathroom wall/window earlier this week. It was 6am and completely dark outside. I thought a tree had fallen on the house, but then upon inspection of the backyard... there it was…. a stunned swan waddling around by the deck. This is not how I like to be woken up, and I’m really glad it didn’t crack the window. I’m also glad the swan was up and waking shortly after the incident, which is just plain weird, given the lake is fully iced over and the swans are typically not around here unless there’s open water.

4. If you missed my Calendar of Light installment earlier this week, you can view it (Dec. 10th) as well as the full Calendar of Light as the offerings are made at Alignment: Interfaith Contemplative Practices.

5. After nearly 20 years of practicing and not really being interested in teaching, turns out teaching yoga is part of my new job. So, yoga teacher training, here I come.

6. I skated for the first time this season yesterday, and it was delightful. Alas today the lake is a soupy mess, so I’m hoping for a decent cold snap to refreeze it so this activity can continue. Last year we paddled the canoe on Christmas Day, which I prefer never to do again. Come oooooonnnnn, winter.

7. I’m one of the featured authors for Anoka County Library’s 2025 read local initiative. You can read the full interview I did with the coordinator at their website, and there will be a local author fair on March 1st, so if you’re in the area, make a plan to stop by.

8. Should anyone need a book to give somebody for a holiday gift, if I get them to the post office by Wednesday, December 18, word is it’ll make it on time. SO, if you want a signed copy of any of my books (except 12 Tiny Things, I’m out of that one, but your local indie should have a copy..) send an email (heidi@heidibarr.com) in the next 24 hours and I’ll get it out the door by Wednesday. Books range in price from $15-25 + shipping and you can use Venmo.

   Did I misspell the word “Simple” in my little post it note sign? Sure did. Imperfections are a part of life. ;) Here’s to Simpe Living. May your December be full of the happenings that fill you up with joy, and if it’s not one of those years, may it go swiftly and without too much turmoil as you look toward better things on the horizon.