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Tom Leonard built an Earthship on top of a hill near Florence, Mont., for his family to live in after reading an article about the homes almost 20 years ago. Knowing very little about the technology required to run a self-sustaining house, and with limited building experience, the project took nearly two decades to complete. Tom says it's still a work in progress. Photo by Josh Potter. Off the Grid in Montana, Part 1: Winter in the Earthship

By Joshua M. Potter

Tim Steigers, who worked more than 30 years at Smurfit-Stone Container, still drives past the hard hats that hang there a year after the closure. Photo by Justin Franz. Life After Smurfit-Stone: One Year After the Company Leaves the Company Town

By Justin Franz

Reptiles, Princesses & Paul Bunyan-Sized Women: New Western Picture Books

By Jenny Shank

The four-day trip covering a twisty 175 miles from Lewiston to Billings will take 516 minutes. Photo by Flickr user <a target= How Drivable Will Highway 12 Megaloads Be?

By Steve Bunk

Comments

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By Jill Roberts, 6-28-07
There is nothing more to say; you said it perfectly. Beautiful writing.
By sara berndt, 6-29-07
Your story so perfectly parallels what I have gone through: from leaving my parents to move across country to watching my own helpless baby born last august develop into a growing child with her own wants and needs. Thank you for writing it all out so eloquently.
By Sidni Sobolik, 7-06-07
Hi Jennifer, I'm sitting at my desk with some tears running down my face. That is all so very familiar to me. Moving from MI to WA so many years ago and knowing I was breaking my Mom's heart. Going to some mother's group when Lily was 2 1/2 and the teacher person asking each of us what was the hardest thing so far. Many people said "oh the terrible 2's are killing me". My response was that I loved every bit of it -- it was the letting go that was hard and that I could imagine it being hard forever. So true. But as always -- excitement and fun and beauty in all of it. It gets finally to....if they are happy then I can be happy, too. Thanks for the beautiful, but bittersweet memories. Love, Sidni
By Guynn, 9-22-07
Ok, this one made me cry, again. We did indeed think you were crazy for moving so far, far away -- where we couldn't catch you if you fell. Where we couldn't make sure you were being treated well and that you were growing. But that was just it - you were and did grow. You grew into a fine young woman that we are so very proud of. It is heartbreaking at best to think that you can't reach out and touch your child. Yet you look back over the years and know that your child has had courage and worked hard to make a life that fit her. It is instinct and love to walk behind your child to make sure if they fall that they don't get hurt. We are indeed 3000 miles away - but still here if you wobble. Last thought -- just wait till they drive down the driveway!
Love you dearly,
Guynn

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