My earliest memories bring forth the strong aroma of turpentine and oil paints as I sat next to my father, an 8th grade educated, hardworking blue collar sportsman and hunter, who had an amazing God-given gift of art.  As other kids might receive a written note from their parents,  my father  communicated with his wife and five daughters with hand drawn cartoons and sketches.  Always an active person, I vowed in high school I would not let office work dictate my life, but circumstances dictated a different path.  From business manager, to business owner, I treaded through those years, always hoping I would find a way to unchain me from a desk.

As I cared for my mother in her last years, I found the therapeutic ambiance of horses helped me deal with the challenges of being a caregiver.  After the loss of my mother, along with other substantial midlife changes, I moved to Michigan and was blessed with the opportunity to train to become a PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor.

In my work with the special needs population, veterans and at-risk youth, I have utilized arts and crafts, in addition to the nonjudgmental response of horses, to help people in equine assisted learning and activities.

I celebrated my 70th birthday this year and I feel blessed I am no longer chained to a desk, and I am able  to share my love of art and horses in a therapeutic way.