“Her Name was McGill”

On By ResaIn Alley Gallery, Collaborations

“She called herself Lil, but everyone knew her as Nancy”

Hi, Blue Dude Raccoon here, with an Alley Gallery tale that will tune you in and turn you on!

It all began last summer when Nancy (great, great, great, great, great & about 55 more greats) granddaughter of Rocky Raccoon began wandering the alleys taking pics of humans on garage doors.

Teagan R. Geneviene via Night Cafe

Made aware of this, kits in their late teens rebelled. They struck out into the alley spraying graffiti over the images of humans,

and churning up general mayhem.

Their mom’s, dressed in their finest matching period gowns, discussed the issue over tea.

Teagan R. Geneviene via Night Cafe

They actually thought of asking Gideon Bibbel to help. He was the largest scariest raccoon ever. He was so big he lived in an abandoned warehouse, and took up all the space.

Unfortunately, he terrified the wee tiny ones, so they decided against it.

One night after a gig, the Jazz Racs, a local raccoon jazz band who played for humans, parked their car in an alley, after a gig.

Teagan R. Geneviene via Night Cafe

The kits spent half the night spray painting the car, while everyone slept.

Something had to be done! The mom’s decided to consult Big Purple, the wise old leader of the Trash Can Clan.

Simple he said. The Kits need to be Jazzed Up. They need to channel their emotions creatively.

Teagan R. Geneviene via Night Cafe

So, after making the Kits clean the paint off of the car, they all head down to the Jazz Cafe.

The Kits were wowed!

The Kits all decided to learn to play instruments, and start a band.

A couple of months later (Raccoons learn very quickly) they played their first gig,

… and their happy mom’s showed up to dance.

Teagan R. Geneviene via Night Cafe

Pics taken by Resa – 2024-2026

Toronto, Canada

The Artists:

For anyone who hasn’t guessed, I began this tale with inspiration from The song below.

AI was not used in the writing of this post.

Post Script:

Toronto is known as the "Raccoon Capitol", which is why there is so much raccoon street art in the city. 

When Teagan, a most creative & whimsical writer, included the image of Raccoons having tea in gowns in a  post,  I got quite a chuckle out it. So I asked Teagan if I could include it in my annual raccoon street art post. Not only did she say yes, but out of the blue, in kind & generous spirit, Teagan did up more raccoon whimsy and sent it to me.
Thank you for thinking of me, Teagan, and thank you for selecting the Jazz music for the post!

Teagan’s newest (and imo FAB) book cover is a collage/composite made from public domain art; found in several 1920s ghost story magazines.

You can buy this and her other books on Amazon. Click on the Who is Teagan banner below, and find all relevant info & links!

Who is Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

217 thoughts on ““Her Name was McGill””

  2. 🦝🤍🦝🤍🦝🤍🦝🤍🦝🤍🦝🤍🦝🤍🦝

    loving the role reversal 🦝📷🖼️

    ⬻𓂀☆♡ ‌ ‌ 🎀 ‌ 𝐺𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑣𝑦 ‌ 🎀 ‌ ‌ ♡☆𓂀⤖

    🦝🤍🦝🤍🦝🤍🦝🤍🦝🤍🦝🤍🦝🤍🦝

    Reply

          1. More WP weirdness mefinks! I could see the original link in the notifications bar in Reader, but it totes appeared to be missing when viewing the comment direct on your blog. Wotevvs, yeah yeah. But never mind that:

            ⬻𓂀ღ☆∞♡ 🔺 𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓅𝓎 𝒻𝓇𝒾𝒹𝒶𝓎 🔺 ♡∞☆ღ𓂀⤖

            Reply

    2. Yes… the role reversal is fun, fun and more fun.

      𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒀𝒐𝒗 ꧁ ☆ 𝕲𝕽𝕺𝕺𝖁𝖄 ☆ ꧂ 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒉𝒂𝒎

      ★💙★💙★💙★💙★💙★💙★💙★💙★💙★💙★💙

      Reply

  3. Oh.. the cutely mischievous kits and their chic moms (fine courtesy of Teagan), the Big Purple’s apt assistance… truly one of a kind, jazzing-up of the raw raccoonish situation! 😊 Has felt like somehow saving it all, both images and story, in all its sweet and whimsical wisdom, for more enjoyment later, and perhaps resharing! Thank you, Resa and Teagan, for such a unique and exuberant co-creation. 🦝💖

    Reply

    2. Oh, thank you kindly, Nicole!
      It was a lot of fun doing this post. There is lots of raccoon art in this city, something should be done with it.

      Take care and I am thrilled you like this post! ★💙

      Reply

    1. Yay!
      I’m thrilled you got a kick out of Blue Dude’s tale. I gotta say the garage door with Blue Dude on it took my breath, when I espied it.
      It was in an artless, dusty alley, barely even a tag, but no alley shall go un-walked. One never knows where treasure is found.

      Congratulations on your new book!
      BIG HUGS!
      (I look forward to the companion post!)

      Reply

    1. I love the raccoon art, too, Ada.
      There is lots and lots of it in the alleys.
      Raccoons have been filmed in the Toronto subways, and other odd places.
      A few years ago, there was a raccoon living in ..I think it was an Ikea store. Well, where ever, they make the news and the local social media goes raccoon mad.
      Thank you!!!
      ★💙★💙

      Reply

  7. Ahhh I’m Obsessed🦋🩵🦝 … And🧐, Great Scott! Is that Rocky Raccoon photographing… Resa?🔄 (Looks like her) What kind of self-aware 2026 meta art chicanery— 😅😄

    What a great song inspo too. Beatles were so funny on The White Album🤍

    Grreat Post😎

    Reply

    2. Yes… I am now immortalized on Raccoon garage doors. I’ve always wanted to be painted on a garage, and it took “Teagan the Raccoon” to do it.

      EF, every time I see raccoon art, I immediately start hearing “Rocky Raccoon”.
      The Beatles seem to have written something for everyone, and raccoons.

      Thank you for your visit and your fun comment!
      ★💙★💙

      Reply

        1. LOL!
          I saw something that looked like one of those French girl paintings at the top of an alley.
          I was on the streetcar, racing home for dinner, so didn’t get off to take pics. I shall return!
          ★💙

          Reply

    2. Oh… I’ve found so many nicknames for raccoons this week, Cheyenne. Mayhem wasn’t among them, but that would be fabulous. I wish I had given that as a name for one of my raccoons in my companion post (goes live at midnight). Thanks for commenting. Hugs.

      Reply
  11. Timothy Price's avatar Timothy Price

    Love Rocky, but not raccoons in general. They are ornery, pesky, dirty critters. Doppel is happy to be inside where he doesn’t have to fight with the raccoons anymore. Wonderful post, Resa and Teagan.

    Reply

    2. I understand… they can be a royal pain. I seem to recall…a few years ago, you posted about raccoons breaking in, and posted pics of the disaster they made in the kitchen.

      Poor Doppel, fighting with raccoons. I found a cat with kittens at my old place. She was fighting off a raccoon, protecting them. WOW, a mother cat is a fierce creature. Of course they came to live with me.

      Thank you so much, Tim! xo

      Reply
      1. Timothy Price's avatar Timothy Price

        That was the kitchen on the deck. The raccoons got high on lighter fluid and ransacked the deck. Nice you took in the kitties. You don’t want to mess with mother cats.

        Reply
          1. Timothy Price's avatar Timothy Price

            Yes! They opened bottles of charcoal lighter fluid and got lighter fluid all over. Good thing we did not have any lighters in the outdoor kitchen at that time.

            Reply

  12. Such a great raccoon post, Resa (and Teagan)! Raccoons are very cute. I didn’t remember they were such a big thing in Toronto. There are lots of raccoons here. Years ago, a momma raccoon decided the space under our roof was a good home for her babies. And two years ago, my sister-in-law was attacked by a rabid raccoon.

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Merril! Lots of fun in this post.

      Yes, raccoons are a big deal here. We love them until they move into out attics. Then…? How did you get rid of them?

      Like squirrels, (OMG I adore squirrels) when they get in, they can eat wiring. The raccoons keep eating the black insulation off of our copper pipes outside. Still, that’s not as bad as the thief (junkie) we had that ripped out all the copper pipes to sell. He was busted for many crimes in our area, and is in jail now.

      Yikes…rabies! Was your sister okay? Did she have to get shots? This is why I try to not engage them in the alleys, them and skunks. But boy are they cute.

      I just re-read the article I did on you book _ Sexual Harassment. What a fabulous book that was. Thank you!

      Reply

      1. You’re welcome, Resa!
        We found someone to capture them all. He said he was going to release them somewhere. Hopefully. . .
        We have so many squirrels around here! But no, I don’t want them in the house either.

        I’m glad the human criminal was arrested.

        My sister-in-law had to get rabies shots. It’s a series of shots for a few weeks, and you have to go to the ER to get them.

        Thank you again for writing that article. Much appreciated! 💙

        Reply

                    1. 🎼Don’t tell me what the poets are doing
                      Don’t tell me that they’re talking tough
                      Don’t tell me that they’re anti-social
                      Somehow not anti-social enough, that’s right🎼
                      💙

                    3. Yes! Bit of a mess.
                      xoxoxoxoxoxo

                      On a humorous note (Is it possible to laugh at the dictator until they explode from negative sense of humour?) – I am just about to send pics of Evilomlap post whipping with wig in shreds. Choices!

  16. Wow, I had no idea Toronto is the raccoon capital!! These raccoon street art is so fun! I LOVE the Jazz Racs, a local raccoon jazz band, mwahaha!! The Blue Dude Raccoon is striking, and the raccoon moms in their finest period gowns are adorable!! I’d love to see an animated feature of those rac-mom ladies!! 🦝

    Reply

    2. Yes… a local Jazz band…
      Yes… I was thinking an animated feature would be really cute.. and cool.
      Thanks for checking out our post, Ruth, and Thank you!!!!!
      ***xoxo ༻★༺ xoxo ***

      Reply

        1. You are welcome Shey!

          Okay, I know it’s a dream at the beginning… I haven’t reached the end…BUT that green dress she dreams of is going to get drawn!

          Thrilled you did not over describe it, so I can have my way. Of course I need to get to know her better, before I decide what that is.
          xxxxxxxxxxx

          Reply

            1. Yes… I searched some… very sexy, and lots of styles.. I can handle that! xxxxx

              Whether or not she’s the kind … I’ll get back. Heading to read another chapter -Right Now!

              Reply

  20. This is beyond brilliant. A wonderful combination of talents, as the previous comment points out — but you’re the one who brought it all together. Having lived with (nightly) raccoon visits in my downtown Toronto back yard all those years, I have come to love them more in artwork than in reality, particularly in Emily Rose May’s bouncy critters, whose work I only came to know after moving west, thanks to posts by our fellow WP blogger Mary C (As I Walk Toronto). And to cap it all, that nod to the Beatles song! I was singin’ along…

    Reply

    1. Thank you Penny!

      It was a blast doing up this post, and there is so uch raccoon art… gotta do something with it.

      I agree! Raccoons are so very cute, but keep a distance! They carry rabies, and if they get into your attic, YIKES!!!

      People love Emily’s raccoons. They are everywhere!

      Thanks for the visit, Penny, and your cool comment!

      Reply

  22. Pingback: Raccoon Reading & ArtGowns (Companion Post feat. Resa McConaghy) – Teagan's Books

    1. Hi, Robbie. Oh! That’s right — raccoons aren’t everywhere. They are very clever critters. Back when I lived in Nashville there was one who came to my back deck. My cat (inside) always tried to fight it, banging her paws on the glass door really hard. LOL, but I got the feeling that she was doing a sort of flirting, like she meant to impress the raccoon with some butt kicking skill. 🙀. Thanks for commenting. Hugs.

      Reply

  26. Another fantastic collaboration between two great talents. I love the story and all the images, Resa and Teagan. Thanks and I hope we’ll see many more posts like this!

    Reply

  27. Resa and Teagan, this was fabulous fun. I loved seeing how your raccoon street art and Teagan’s imagination came together. It is one of those collaborations where you can feel how much both of you enjoyed the idea. And Blue Dude was the perfect narrator. What a wonderful bit of whimsy. This was a magnificent blogger duet!

    Reply

  28. I love raccoons and I happen to think they behave very much like people when you spend enough time around them. Which makes this gallery such a groovy vibe for my way of thinking when it comes to these beautiful creatures. All this AND Monk! BOOM!

    Reply

  29. Hi Resa, I’ve been a fan of Raccoons for quite a while and have had many run-ins with Rocket the Raccoon from the movie Guardians of the Galaxy on my site! They are mischievous but you gotta love ’em.
    p.s. the Raccoon “actor” that performed as Rocket was called Oreo in real life.

    Reply

  31. Another fabulous post with such a beautiful tale! The combination with Teagan’s art is absolutely fascinating, and I’m so happy I saved this to read. Thank you so much, Resa.

    ❤️🙏🌹💖💥👏

    However, Daniel was hot and drew first and shut! 😉😂😘

    Reply

            1. Yours is great too!
              Why not make art out of everything in life? Okay sometimes one is not in the mood, but perhaps that’s when it’s most self helpful.
              XO ༻★༺ XO

              Reply

      1. lol – we’re on a bush block and the Offspring thinks there may have been a young wombat trundling along in the neighbour’s paddock a while ago. Would love to have seen it!

        Reply
  35. dgkaye's avatar dgkaye

    What a fun story Resa! I love Rocky Raccoon and its fifty generations LOL. Love the Trash Can Clan too. Very creative varments!!! 🧡💜❌⭕❌

    Reply

    1. LOL. Thanks, Edward. Resa finds and shares so many wonderful murals that I thought she should be the subject of some. The role reversal of a raccoon being the photographer was irresistible. It got me on a bit of a raccoon images making kick. Hugs. 🤗

      Reply

  37. Pingback: “HER NAME WAS MCGILL” | By the Mighty Mumford

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