Who am I?

My name is Bonnie Nichols and I was born an animal lover.  My earliest memories are of my grandfather stopping anytime we saw a horse to let me get a closer look. I am the only horsey person in my family.  I began riding at the age of ten and had a horse from the time I was fifteen until three years ago.  All but two were Arabians.  Those two were Quarterhorses.  Horses have influenced my whole life in many, many ways. They taught me patience, understanding and compassion.  I love to train horses, especially on the lunge line.  The last horse I had would lunge around me in a circle without a lunge line in the middle of a huge field.  He heeled, just like a dog, and when I said "Deli' Come", he would gallop up to me and stop dead in front of me to give me a smooch on the nose.   I used to ride a great deal, we lived near a state maintained game reserve and on average I rode from fifty to one hundred and fifty miles a week.  A few years ago  I took a course in equine massage.  I could quite literally put my horse to sleep using the massage techniques I learned.   It also did wonders for improving the way my horse moved.   These methods also work well on dogs.  

 Except for a two year period when my husband was in the service, I can never remember not having a dog in my life, and usually more than one.  Even as a toddler, we had dogs, and I think that early bonding was what made me "Me".  I cannot imagine not having a dog in my life and I hope that day never happens.  I've had Boxers, Labs, Dobies, German shepherds, Samoyeds, Lhaso-Apsos (sp?), of course Mini Schnauzers and many, many  mixes.  I love the terrier attitude and I tend to be partial to male dogs.  I love a schnauzer's "can do" attitude and I really don't think there is anything they can't do.

Grooming dogs is something I also enjoy.  I worked for a groomer for about three years and learned on the job, although I had already groomed my own before.  When we had the farm, I had a grooming shop in my barn.  

I love to paint anything!  I have a beach mural painted on my living room wall.  My husband, Carl, was in the hospital having a back surgery and I was restless, so I painted a "blue streak" across my wall which led to the mural.  In one corner of my living room I have painted in bookshelves complete with books and cabinets.  It is very realistic looking and put some life into a somewhat dead corner.  I love to sponge paint and stencil as well.  I've painted walls, furniture, clothes, floors, stairs, you name it.  My husband swears if he stood still long enough that I would paint him too.  Computers are marvelous for art and playing on my own PC is what led me to the job I have now.  I am employed for the county and design the county WebPages.   If you'd like to take a look at my work click here: http://www.sussexcounty.net