I'd like to introduce you to Ardis Eckel.
We discovered Ardis through a publication called Ruralite. Ruralite is a newsletter put out by our rural electrical co-op that is owned by all us rural folk in these parts. I always read my Ruralite from cover to cover. I keep up on my neighbors and read about rural people I don’t know, but wish I did. Ardis writes business features for Ruralite.

The women profiled in this section will be picked from my list of female mail-order customers. With their permission, Ardis will tell their stories here and on our website.

As it turns out, Ardis is not only a freelance writer, but has been a beautician for 29 years in the tiny north central Idaho burg of Harpster. Her community is bordered by a clear, rushing river surrounded by pine trees, and sits at a mountain’s foot. She says she loves to write upbeat stories. In particular, of course, she loves the stories of women. Being a beautician is more than fixing hair. It’s listening to women’s stories. Ardis says, “I delight in my rural life, and every day I’m thankful to live in the country and practice two such creative and inspiring vocations. I love being rooted where both my mother and grandmother were raised.”

Enjoy Ardis. Enjoy and be inspired by all of us as our stories unfold and get told.

From the Farm Kitchen Issue:

• Susan Dahlem: Farmgirl Clean

From the No Place Like Home Issue:

• Miss Wilma

From the Handful Issue:

• Janet Lecompte

From the Plateful Issue:

• The Farm Chicks ... "Live Well, Laugh Often, Junk Much"

From the Shoulder to the Wheel Issue:

• Lois Blackburn ... cellist on wheels

From the Art of the Egg Issue:

• The Collections of Ruby Valentine

From our Backcountry Food Issue:

• The Living Legend of Penny Keck

From our Premiére Issue:

• Ellen Winchell — Setting Her Sights on Life
• Lois Cox — Living Her Days With Intention
• Gwen Serriere Believes in Mining Life's Experiences

Web:

• Carol Panepinto Heads Back to Class
• Lynda Norton — Another Change of Scenery
• Mary Ellen Markle's Modern-day Homestead

Read more Every Woman Has a Story articles in MaryJanesFarm magazine. Click here to find out how to order your copy today.

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