Cinnamon Cooney, RIP*

*Rest in Paint

This weekend I discovered that Cinnamon Cooney aka The Art Sherpa passed away in December 2024. She was only 54! I hadn't been following her lately because (1) I was a bit tired of painting, and (2) when I do paint these days, I prefer to zone out and not listen/watch a video. I had lots of ideas and templates on hand, but I wanted to check out some flowers, so I googled her and found the obit. So sad. After my eldest treated me to a paint night back way back when and got me hooked on acrylic art, Cinnamon's videos are what kept me on the creativity road, especially during the lockdowns when we couldn't go out to paint at a venue. Plus, since I tend to be a little obsessive, I would rather paint at home where I can take six hours or more to do one picture instead of getting hurried along for the next batch of artists. Being me, naturally I stocked up on a zillion paints, canvases, brushes, etc., to be prepared for any inspirational event. Also, being me, I became bored with it all. Anyway, Cinnamon was awesome, and I was sorry to read about her passing.

I did paint a bird of paradise flower yesterday on a mini (8x8) canvas, and it came out OK, not great. I also sponged the backgrounds for three more pictures for another time. My idea is to do a single bloom on each 8x8 canvas or maybe two more flowers and one butterfly. I still have a bunch of larger canvases too, but idk if I will use them all. Oh, I bought a paint by number at Michael's ~ it's the Van Gogh cafe scene. So, I need to get going on that soon. I have one diamond art project left as well, but it's a serious undertaking ~ a cake stand, lol. Not that I would put any food on it! Maybe fake food. Hmm. Anyway, I find my neck hurts after doing diamond art, so I've dumped my other DA projects, but the cake stand is so pretty I still want to do it.

On Saturday night I watched Another Simple Favor, which bypassed the theaters and went straight to Prime video. It was OK. Fun to see the characters come together again, and while Blake Lively's Emily was still deliciously wicked, Anna Kendrick's "more assertive" Stephanie was meh. And we didn't get enough of Sean (Henry Golding). The plot was so ridiculous I can't even. Glad I didn't pay to see it in the theater.

I rewatched Kingsman: The Secret Service on Hulu, but I didn't like it as much as I did back in 2014. I don't think I will rewatch the second one. I guess I'm renewing Hulu. The website says I'm still on the special deal for $2.99/month through November, while their email warns me that the price is jumping to $9.99. We shall see what happens on Wednesday when the charge hits. If it's the higher amount, I will cancel it. Regarding the new Golden Bachelor ~ it's not the funny French guy after all, but an unknown dude, so no great loss if I can't watch it. Not sure I will even watch it if I continue Hulu. What else?

Oh, I read Riley Sager's Home Before Dark and loved it. What a wonderfully twisty thriller, even better than Middle of the Night. I gave them both four stars, but I would give HBD 4.5 if possible. I save five star ratings for books that are so good I'd read them again and/or books that have a profound message or give me some kind of epiphany. Psychological thrillers don't fall into any of those groups. I don't reread them because the point is the unexpected twist.

Sprinkles gave me two free cupcakes for my birthday, so on Saturday I nommed up their limited time special Margarita, which really did taste like a Margarita: tequila infused cake completed with a lime candy and a salted rim (yum!); Sunday I had their Vietnamese Coffee, which is now on the permanent list and with good reason. I think it's my new favorite cupcake! Coffee cake filled with condensed milk buttercream (not whipped cream) and topped with luscious coffee frosting. Decadent and scrumptious.

I'm very proud of myself because I put together a bookcase I had delivered from Target. It looks great, and I didn't injure myself too badly (only dropped a wrench on my foot). 

Happy Cinco de Mayo!