I started writing and drawing when I was very young; fairly quickly the drawing stalled out and I still have the artistic talent of an average five-year-old! Writing, however, has gotten me through a few harried moments, and a few dark times, and even some calming, relaxing days.

When I was eight, Gone With the Wind was showing at local movie theaters and I was dying to see it. My grandmother promised to take me - as soon as I read the book! I was pretty determined then (as now, although my family and friends are more likely to use the term "stubborn", among others!) and so I read it, in hardback, all 1000+ pages. I've always loved the Old South and almost everything associated with it - later, when I began researching my family tree, I was surely hoping for ancestors who lived on a grand plantation, but alas - they were sharecroppers. So much for my youthful fantasy life!

In high school, prior to graduating a year early, I took every honors English and creative writing class available, as well as working on the school newspaper. I took summer courses in journalism, and seriously considered that as a college major. Unfortunately, due to various and sundry circumstances, I slogged through four majors and took roughly 20 years to finish college. Problem was, I really just couldn't make up mind what to be when I grew up - then I discovered the wonderful concept of "interdisciplinary studies"!

My husband and I have been married just over eleven years; we each had two children at the time and now have one together. Their ages range from 28 down to 10 years old and, I might add, the second oldest made us grandparents a year ago...still not sure how I feel about that!

I grew up in the St. Louis, Missouri area and lived in central Missouri for fifteen years after that; when Dennis and I married, we moved to a small town in Missouri, then to Colorado, then Texas where we stayed put for eight years. I have to say, it's nice to be back home in St. Louis - there are actually more than two seasons!

My passion is ...

reading - everything, even the cereal box in a pinch!

I know too much about ...

myself.

My parents always told me ...

don't argue!

My childhood ambition ...

to own a horse farm.

My favorite memory ...

walking through the woods in spring.

Why I write ...

to have a voice.

My first job ...

working at a bowling alley snack bar.

My inspiration ...

Margaret Mitchell

Pets & Animals > Horses Horse facts for kids

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There are lots and lots of fun facts for kids to learn about horses and many kids want to know all there are!

A baby horse is called a "foal"; after age one, a girl is called a "filly" and a boy is called a "colt". An older female horse is referred to as a "mare", and an older male horse, a stallion or a gelding. A stallion is able to be a father, a gelding is not.

Horses are measured in "hands", which equals about 4 inches; a short horse is about 13 or 14 hands and a tall horse would be 16 or 17 hands. A horse that is shorter than 13 hands is called a "pony". Horses are measured...

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