NORWAY — The Norway Memorial Library will host a fireside chat with Nancy Hohmann, author of “Days with Daisy,” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18.

Except for six years in Vermont, Hohmann has lived in the Oxford Hills since graduating from Bates College and completing a master of arts in teaching degree at Harvard Graduate School of Education. She taught public school for more than 25 years: elementary and high school French and Spanish, special education, fourth grade, and gifted and talented, in between and while raising three kids. 

Over the years she taught in every school in SAD 17 except the new Paris School that opened after her retirement, as well as at Telstar High School in Bethel. She has three grown and married children and two granddaughters. She currently teaches therapeutic riding at Riding to the Top Therapeutic Riding Center in Windham. 

“Animals have been an integral part of my life since childhood. My parents actually bought us a puppy when I was 10 because they were concerned that I talked to my stuffed animals too much. There have always been animals of some sort in the family (guinea
pigs, parakeets, dogs, cats, fish, hamsters, gerbils, a goat), and since age 23 I have always had at least one horse,” Hohmann said.

“Animals have helped me through all the events of my life, both joyous and sad. Learning to hear and speak with the animals as an animal communicator has been a natural outgrowth of my interest in, admiration for and companionship with animals throughout my life,” she said.

In “Days with Daisy,” Hohmann recorded conversations she had with Daisy, a golden retriever who lived in Harrison, until her death in 2006 from a rare bone cancer. In these conversations, Daisy shared her insights about what she considered the important things in life. She advised “get up every day with a grateful heart, and get on with living.”

Hohmann was the 2009 recipient of the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association Instructor of the Year Recognition Award.

The fireside chat will be held in the Reference Room at the Norway Memorial Library. It is free and open to the public. For more information, call 743-5309 or visit the library’s Web site at www.norway.lib.me.us.