When I was five, my grandmother gave me her piano (a big, upright monstrosity that took six men to move) on the condition that I learn to play it. I did, and when I left for college, my piano went with me. I helped pay my way through school by being the pianist for a small church, giving lessons, and playing for weddings.

Three years after graduating from college, I moved back to my hometown and bought a small, older house. The piano was too wide to fit through the door, so it had to go back to my parent’s home. For the first time since I was five, I had no piano to play.

Early one afternoon about two months later, my mom showed up at my door and announced that she had bought me a “gift” and it would be delivered shortly. An hour later a moving truck pulled up and three men unloaded a grand piano. As I stood there in shock, my mother explained she’d been hunting me a piano that would fit through the door. Someone had told her that you could take the legs off a grand piano and turn it up on its side to fit through narrow spaces. When she saw an article in the paper about a new grand piano being donated to a large local church, she contacted them about buying their older grand. She’d spent three years of savings to buy me that piano.

The grand took up half my small living room then, and now takes up a good chunk of my den. I bought a small spinet piano about ten years ago and that is the one I play the most. Friends and family have asked why I don’t sell the grand, but I won’t sell it. Family photos of four generations grace the top and every time I look at it, I remember what extraordinary efforts my mother went through so I’d have a piano to play. It’s not really a box of strings and keys, it’s a mother’s love disguised as a grand piano.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a blessed holiday season.

Deborah                                 

Have you noticed how many times Montana is mentioned in movies, commercials, and  country songs? The implication seems to be that somehow life is better in Montana. After twenty years of being inspired, awed, and befriended by her
majestic vistas, remarkable animals, and amiable neighbors, my family heartily agrees. However, the differences in living in Montana are not limited to its natural resources, wildlife, and people. Native Montanans have a different mindset than those of us who are transplants from whirlwind hubs like Atlanta, Houston, or Los Angeles. 

According to the encyclopedia, Montana is in the Rocky Mountain Time Zone. Those of us lucky enough to live here know life often unfolds according to the unwritten
time concept affectionately dubbed, “Montana Time.” 
  
I first became aware of the practice of living life according to Montana Time when
we were building our log home. The carpenters would show up around 10 a.m. and would leave by 4p.m. When   questioned, they explained that the fishing was best early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Admittedly, I didn’t see the connection between fishing and getting my house built. The craftsmen took pity on me. With great patience, they explained the concept of Montana Time, so that I wouldn’t remain forever clueless in Montana. Why, they wondered, would someone move to this breathtaking Eden and not take the time to enjoy its cornucopia of
delights?

During my first fifteen years here, I didn’t fully appreciate the Montana Time concept. I was busy running my retail store, raising children, and writing my novel. Today, the business is sold, the kids are grown, and Breaking TWIG is out in paperback and eBook formats. Now, as I make my way around a family of wild turkeys and head for the hammock to contemplate the new novel swirling in my head, I realize a subtle conversion to a different view of how to make the most of my time here on planet Earth has seeped into my psyche . . . a conversion to Montana Time. 

Thanks for stopping by,
Deborah

 P.S. How do you enjoy your Montana (or its equivalent) Time? Leave a comment by Aug, 7, 2013 and be automatically entered into a drawing for a free copy of my novel, Breaking TWIG.

So many of my favorite things are being celebrated in June, I wanted to list a few. 
 
Along with the all important Father’s Day, D-Day,  and the first day of summer, June brings us National Fishing and Camping weeks  for the outdoor enthusiasts. For my fellow animal lovers, June is Adopt-a-Cat  month, as well as Zoo and Aquarium month. And if you’re looking for an excuse to  eat chocolate (and who isn’t) June is the month that officially celebrates chocolate ice cream, chocolate éclair, and chocolate pudding days. 

The Tasmanian Devil, Garfield (the cat, not our 20th President), Donald
Duck, and my daughter’s favorite Sesame Street character, Oscar the Grouch, have
birthdays in June. For all those who adore out-of-this- world experiences, June
brought us the first U.S. Spacewalk (1965), the premier of the movie E.T. (which
I saw on a first date with a fellow that I have now been married to for 30
years), and this Sunday, June 23, there will be a Super-moon, the largest full moon of the year.
 
To celebrate all the celebrations, I am giving away free Kindle downloads of my book, Breaking TWIG, on June 23rd. So treat yourself to a free book, some
chocolate ice cream, and the wonder of a Super-moon. 

Win an Autographed Copy of Breaking TWIG


In honor of my daughter's birthday,
I am giving away an autographed paperback copy of Breaking TWIG.

Starting Nov. 20th -- 30th, 2012
Open to US residents.
Must be 18 to enter.  Good Luck.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Enter on Contest/News page at:
http://www.deborahepperson.com/

Hi y’all,

It seems May is a month of celebrations. In addition to the
birthdays (my son and brother's), graduations, Mother’s Day, and the Memorial
Day holiday, this month has many lesser known, but equally deserving holidays
to celebrate. For example, did you know May was Family Wellness Month
and National Military Appreciation Month? 

Being from the Gulf Coast, I especially want to mention that May
is American Wetlands Month and give a special shout out to Capt. Wendy at
bayouwoman.com for all her work in helping restore and protect the wetlands of
southern Louisiana. 

In May, we also have National New Friends, Old Friends Week: 15-21.
It’s the perfect time to reconnect with an old friend and reach out to a
new one. Eliza Doolittle Day is May 20th (for our cousins across the pond),
and we can’t forget May is also National Barbeque Month,in honor of all
grill-masters everywhere, especially Nathan, my husband and griller
extraordinaire for almost thirty years. 

So in honor of so many wonderful happenings in May, I am giving
#free #kindle downloads of my ebook, Breaking TWIG. on May
20th.  Find it at:  http://amzn.to/rPjpKo

Have a wonderful month and thanks for stopping by,

Deborah