Today's Episode's Friendly Public Service Announcement: Only a few more days to send in your taxes, and now something to distract you from that.

The Creatives Mindset when it comes to Acrylic Painting Episode #110

It has been a few years since I've picked up a paintbrush and put paint to paper.
I quickly, well not so quickly, realized that there was something stopping me from picking it up again. With a two hour window to paint this past weekend, the creative mind in me waited for "Inspiration." I know better, and yet I researched the Internet, looked at old photos and paintings, and then an hour and a half later it hit me. Just get started! Move, because a parked car cannot be steered. 

So, from a mind that wanted to control every step of the creative endeavor, I swung to a free flowing style of water color type application. I dipped the brush into the water and artfully dabbled water drops across the paper, followed by drops of thinned paint in several colors, watching the drops "bloom." Then ever so slowly, I stretched the blooms into a Monet type background first layer. I felt like a kid in Kindergarten with finger paints. It was pure joy until, as an artist you get to that point in your painting where you need to do a little more thinking about the next layer, other wise you may go to far. So I laid that paper aside and began a second. 

This little painting exercise sparked the Creative Mind in me which had laid dormant for awhile. Now my brain is on overload as I look at everything around me and try to discern what colors I would use to paint. Would it be a realistic painting as a John Constable painting that I love, or more abstract? 

I have sold many of the paintings I had but posted some pictures of them here. I would love to see a picture of yours if you would like to share them here in the comments or on my Facebook Page. I'd also love to invite you to join me on Friday's, 10-11 am PST on Clubhouse to hear about your Creative Endeavours. If you need an invite to Clubhouse, leave me a message so I can send one to you. 

Thanks so much for spending your Moments with Moni.

I was enjoying a cup of Green Tea the other day, whilst  enjoying the knowledge  that green tea is a great antioxidant and is touted for fighting cancer. If so, it works even better now that I have a new Zero Water Filter to filter out all the chemicals that are in our water system. My body is highly sensitive to chemicals so removing or slowing down the chemical load that goes into my body helps the liver filter out those that are already in my system. Spring is a wonderful time for detoxing with organic radishes, green oinions, dandelion tea, milk thistle tea, green tea, or many other bitter herbs. 
My son just sent me pictures of his new herb garden and he said they are already enjoying cups of fresh mint tea. It is already warm where he lives to be able to enjoy the fresh herbs. I am still working on the dried teas from last years abundance. 
A few years ago, before our new home was ready for us to inhabit, we stayed at a nearby Mountain Farm, and the propieters served fresh tea leaves from their garden. I could walk out to the garden and pick my own mixture, steep the leaves in hot water and enjoy a fragrant cup of organic tea! So today as I put the kettle on to brew, I thought you might like a coloring book page, from an upcoming book, to wash away the stress of the day. Tea Time. May the Lord Bless & Refresh You. 
And if you get a chance, visit The Cedar Mountain Farm Bed & Breakfast and tell Daryl Ann & Al that I sent you. 
(Download Coloring Page Below)
​Moni

With sunshine streaming into the house today after a long dark winter, it is exposing areas of dirt and dust that have been missed for many months. Those candle light nights of winter have been cozy, but it's time to let the light shine in. I'm sharing some recepies for natural homemade cleaners on the Podcast #108 and here on the Blog for your use. It has been extremely healing for me and our family to remove many of the chemicals and fragrances from our cleaners and environment. Contact with these through our skin or inhaling can affect our systems and cause, in my case, allergic reactions on my skin. Check out the links if you would like to use some of the cleaners. 
​Links to:
Homemade Laundry Detergent
Homeade Liquid Laundry Detergent
Dishwasher Pods
Homemade Natural Dryer Sheets
Favorite Window Cleaner
Any floor cleaning reccomendations from you would be appreciated!
Blessings, Moni

,Oh, I am so excited to share with you a guest post I wrote for the Christian Podcasters Association Blog. I have learned so much in the past year about Podcasting and when the request went out for Blog entries it was a pleasure to submit an article.

Behind the scenes, Eric Nevins, creator of the site and Host of two Podcasts, "Half Way There" and of course, "The Christian Podcaster,"  began a Blog to help encourage all the new members of the Association. The Group has grown exponentially  just these past few months. Eric, switched from working in an office to Podcasting several years ago, and began encouraging so many others to use their voice to share the most important message in their own way. 
I have taken advantage of CPA's Monthly Gold Membership Level for a small fee, which includes weekly Masterminds, a Video Library on all sorts of topics helpful for the Podcaster and an extrememly supportive Community and more, but there is also a free level for all who join the Community. When I think back to my early days, this area of Media was like a forgein language to me. Now it's my turn to help those who are starting out. 
You can find the article here entitled , "The Podcast Overcomers." If you decide to join the Community, stop by and connect with me. You can also join me in my Private Facebook Group, Moments with Moni, Clubhouse where I Host a weekly Room, "The Podcast Brunch Society" on Friday's from 10-11 AM PST, where we discuss all things Podcast, Life, and Community. Clubhouse is still in Beta mode, so if you need an invite and have an Iphone, send me an email and I will give you the details for the invite. And of course, as always, I invite you to listen to the Podcast here on the website, and share the Episodes and Blog Posts with friends and family. Your prayers and feed back are greatly appreciated. 
"It's a good thing to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to His name!"
​Moni

Well, the power is out in alot of places, and my podcast host site is down for the count., so instead sharing my 100th podcast tonight, I thought I would share this Blog Post.There is no need for me to post a picture, because it would just be all white. The snow has been blowing for a few days, and the forecast calls for more. Thankfully, this time we have power, but I hear many, millions are without power down in Texas.

Praying for the country that is going through this ice age event! When we lost power in the last storm, I searched thorugh the cupborads for anything I could use to make a heater to heat some water. So I grabbed my clay pot with white stones and placed a candle inside of it with a metal basket turned upside down over the top of the candle. Then I placed the clay pot saucer on top of that. Filled the tea kettle with water, and soon had hot water. I was able to use a pot on top of the saucer as well to heat up some soup.
The winter cabinet of supplies came in handy. Candles to light the room up, those little hand heater things, can't remember the name right now. But they are the little squares that you cut out of the plastic and shake to cause a chemical reaction. I put one of those in each of my pockets, and under my beanie cap. It's time to pull all the wool clothing out, and dress in layers. 
I also pulled out the old camping coffee percolator. However, being a coffee snob, I only had coffee beans on hand. So I took a hammer to them and then made coffee. One does become resourceful when lack of caffiene is at stake. If you are blessed enough to have a gas stove in the kitchen, it's time to bake some bread. The smell of freshly baking bread in the house can calm nerves, and feed the family. 
Living in the North of Idaho, we are prepared for times like this. It may not be the usual fare, but we survive. Reading the Bible by candle light, under plenty of covers makes for a cozy time with the family. Praying for those that go out into the fierce weather to fix the power lines is a wonderful thing to do as well while you are waiting in the dark. A cigarette lighter, plug in adapter for the car can charge your phones with just a bit of gasoline. It's time to keep the children inside and not open the door to often to keep the heat inside the house. 
While the power is out in the house, we tend to use the garage as our refrigerator, or freezer, depending on how cold it is out there. A wind up radio and wind up flashlight are fun things to have around until moments like these and then, they are both crucial. It's nice to be able to hear the traffic and weather reports while hunkering down. The passes are extrememly icy and the worst part of winter is definitely ice. 
If you are one of those, blessed enough to own a generator, then God bless you and your family. May you share with your neighbors as we do up here in these parts. God bless you all out there. Asking God to keep you warm. Let me know what you are doing to keep warm. 
​Moni

We began our Valentines Weekend tonight with Homemade Spaghetti. It's been awhile since I've made a pot and my hubby enjoys most any kind of Italian food. Going out is not on the radar right now, and to be honest, it's just too cold out there with temps in the single digits. After a week at work in the office, it's nice to have the candles burning, the house smelling good and have it a bit warmer inside on a Friday night.
Spaghetti seems to be the type of dish that everyone enjoys, just a little bit different than others. Some like the sauce mixed in with the noodles some like it separate and some don't care for sauce at all on the noodles. Those noodle only little ones prefer them with butter and Parmesean cheese. Every home that I have had the pleasure of sharing a spaghetti meal with has had a sauce that is unique to them. Some right out of a jar, some homemade with special ingredients. I don't eat the dish anymore, but I do enjoy making it for others. My husband enjoyed it so much. I do recommend having stain remover on hand after serving Spaghetti as it does tend to stain the table cloth, and t-shirts of hungry men and children. 
My sauce has evolved over the years from a recipe that my mom used when I was at home. She served a family of seven along with neighbors and friends that would come over for a meal and would make the meat sauce in a huge stock pot. Many have asked for her recipe, but she was not one to use recipes, and passed that on to me.
I just live adventurously and add things here and there until it looks and tastes similar to her recipe. For those of you who would like to watch the process, feel free to watch the video below. Live adventurously and give it a try.
God bless your weekend with your family and loved ones. 
​~Omi Moni

As the sun sets here in the cold North Idaho Panhandle, colors are alive and well, changing as each minute passes. Pinks and purples to orange and yellow with intermittent white and dark grey clounds passing slowly, leaving gaps of blue sky. The line for Sense and Sensibility always runs through my mind when I see that patch of blue sky, "Blue Sky, let us chase it!"
Along with the beauty of the sky, I am being serenaded by my husband as he bends the strings on the electric guitar. Many admire his playing, as do I, but let me tell you, to keep those fingers nimble requires much time of those sounds waves on my ears. He is very good at it now, and I rarely hear a bad note. Our choice of music is not all the same, and when I am attempting to write on my novel or memoir, or compile notes on a podcast, head phones and a you tube video with nature and classical music help me to F O C U S at the same time he is practicing. Ear plugs are also an option at times and some times both ear plugs and headphones with classical music help the brain to focus.
It's what we do. We spend our time serving the Lord with the talents He has given us, and just like much of the world right now, we are doing most of it in the home and close proximity. So as we chase the directions that God has us moving in there are times that our sounds waves overlap, but it's all worth it when we come out of our corners and share what God is doing and compare notes to help us serve Jesus better.
The glow in the sky is now turning dark as the street lamps light up. As the day comes to an end I am reminded of what a collegue of mine in days past signed his emails with.... "Enjoy your day, unless you have made other plans."
I created a free downloadable digital wall paper for your computer, just download to your photos to use on your desktop, with this reminder so that when life has it's moments of inconveniences you too can be reminded to enjoy your day, unless you have made other plans.
May the Joy of the Lord be your strength.
Moni
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