“Her Name was McGill”

“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!

April Squeeze

April Showers paints her beauties in the worst spots.

This one was at a truck rental parking place. Yes, I almost got stuck squeezing through.

Of all the graf tagged onto the wall, all I wanted was the April Showers face. The best I could do in a 2 foot slot was some demented up angles and truck window reflections.

And now, I am squeezing through from here, until middle/late April. This is my last post until then.

But, I will be visiting when I can.

Not sure who this artist is.
It’s a fine mess.

It’s because I got involved in an ART SHOW. YAY!

So, like April Showers, I’ll be sharing my beauties, but in a nice place.

But if I could, I would have a fashion show in an alley filled with graffiti.

There’s nothing like finding beauty in the roughest places; like Velvet Tango, the Art Gown I made for Holly House of Heart in a tagged up alley.

April Showers will bring art & flowers, and I’ll have lots to share with you!

Of the plethora, I’m mostly super excited to share the show of Paul McCartney’s amateur pics from 1963-64.

Our blog pal MATT is going to be on board for that!

There’s pics Paul took of the other Beatles, of America through the limo & train windows and some colour shots from Miami.

The show was SPLASHTACULAR!

There were also a few old professional promo shots.

So until then, like this art is tagged, I Wish You Roses!

Pics taken by Resa 2024 – 2026

Toronto, Canada

The Dreamers

Actually, I was day dreaming down a rather cozy alley when I found this.

Then, it seemed I was in a dream.

The key? Are dreams a key?

“Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody’s looking for something.”

Pics taken by Resa – March 14, 2025

Toronto, Canada

“Sweet Dreams” Lyrics – Dave Stewart &Annie Lennox

The Artist: Unsigned

The Healing Garden

There had been some cool alley finds on this hot day, but not a real prize.

Then I turned into a shady alley, sweet smelling and comforting.

It was a Healing Garden.

Turns out this alley is one of 2 Healing Gardens. A concept designed by artist Monica Wickeler & Indigenous artist Nyle Miigizi, the alley is filled with native plants and healing medicines. The Anishinaabe Nation’s story of the gift of Jewelweed was handed down to Nyle from his grandmother, Verna Patronella Johnston.

Mural artist Gosia Komorski was hired to paint.

Healing… we can all use some right now.

Best to be whole and positive, as we go into what seems will be a hectic new year.

Now it’s winter, but I fully intend to find the other Healing Garden, in late spring when the herbs are happening.

Pics taken by Resa – August 30, 2024

Toronto, Canada

Mural Artist:

If you click on the document below, you can read about the project. Pardon for the sloppy shot!

This song is not about a Healing Garden, but it feels like one. (Yes, the image is moving!)

Toucan Angel or Mathematician?

I think this is a Toucan?

Probably an angel Toucan. He/she does have a golden halo.

Does the bell in the 3-D triangle mean anything?

I’m of 3 minds.

#1– Absolutely nothing.

#2 – There is a “Bell Triangle”. You can read about it on –Wolfram MathWorld

Suddenly the 3-D writing on the left looks like numbers.

OR 3 –

A Triangle Bell

Pics taken by Resa – March 24, 2023

Toronto, Canada

The Artists:

A Winter’s Solstice in Summer

Ecila looked up at the hot summer’s sun.

She was on her way to Teagan’s Christmas in July blog party, in a beautiful new gown. Blinded by the light, she accidentally turned left into a mural. Ecila looked around at the black and white world, and saw no way out.

Suddenly there was a black and white cat looming before her. “Who are you?” she asked.

“Why I’m Tac Tac the Water Cat,” he replied, “and you can’t get out the way you came in. You’ll have to go through the Purple Pink Rabbits’ door, in the pink alley.”

“Take this!” said Tac Tac, and he handed Ecila a gold rabbit coin. “Use it wisely. It’s your one chance to get out of here.”

Ecila wandered black and white curves until she saw a pink alley. In the alley was a Purple Pink Rabbit. “Hello! What’s your name, and can you please show me the door out of here?”

“I’m Tibbar,” the rabbit replied, “and yes, the door is at the top of the stairs.”

Ecila looked up some stairs guarded by three Purple Pink Rabbits. The door was there!

“But first you’ll have to get past Bugsy, Mugsy and Thugsy. Bugsy and Mugsy charge 5 gold rabbit coins each. Thugsy gets seven.”

“But I have only one gold rabbit coin,” Ecila said looking up at Bugsy.

“Not my problem,” replied Bugsy.

“There’s only one way to make gold rabbit coins here,” offered Mugsy. “You’ll have to play poker with the dogs! The game’s around the corner on an old red wood sliding door.”

Ecila found the dog’s game, draped her tail up to look like a gambler’s cape and threw her gold rabbit coin on the table.

“Chips please!” she demanded cooly.

The dogs howled. They figured she was just a human, and they would relieve her of her gold rabbit coin faster than the first day of winter. A chick in a bolero hat put a small stack of chips on the table for her.

Ecila thought of the wise words from her non uncle Kenny.

After many hours of holding, folding and not counting her chips, Ecila cashed in for 17 gold rabbit coins. She left the extra chips on the table, let down her tail and walked away.

Once out of sight of the dogs, she began running to the Purple Pink Rabbits’ door.

Ecila ran up the stairs tossing gold coins to the rabbits.

She threw the last 7 coins to Thugsy, and fled out the door. Elica ran all the way toTeagan’s blog hop party, where she made a grand entrance in her new Winter Solstice gown.

“Sorry I’m late everyone! My hair is mess and well, I can’t even begin to tell you what I’ve been through,” Ecila lightly panted. “Let me just say some cats are water cats, there’s such a thing as Purple Pink Rabbits and the the dog days of summer really are dog days.”

Teagan is holding a Christmas in Summer blog hop party. It doesn’t have to be Christmas, just a winter celebration around that time. Click on her badge above, and read the guidelines!

Outtakes

Winter Solstice gown created © by Resa – July, 2024

Pics of gown and street art © Resa McConaghy- June & July 2024

Story © Resa McConaghy – July 2024

Street Artists:

&

When Math Meets Art 2023 by Sasha Q