Thank you Lauren for thinking of me and taking these fab shots of beauty for me!
It’s a wonderful feeling to be thought of!
This gorgeous wall painting was taken by Lauren at Baydreamer Writes in late October, when out at a Mexican restaurant. I love it!
I also love Cora’s Quest (her first children’s book) and King Copper, Ever So Gently and More Than Coffee(fine poetry collections). Head to her site for the links to grab one of these gift-able books!
I’ve done reviews of all of her books. Just put the title into the “Search” engine not too far down the sidebar, and go to it.
MONA OF KENSINGTON
“This iconic Kensington Market mural is finally complete — 43 years after it was painted on a dare.”
She’s miserably hard to shoot up high and through wires, but she’s always been there. With her wonky eyes, she was there on my first shopping trip to Kensington.
When I started collecting street art, I did take pics of her. However, she was crumbling & in b&w. This summer the original artist returned and finished her. Here’s an article about it!
Faces in Waiting
The first stunning multi-colour face was on a Magic Mushrooms shop.
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This second face is on a shipping container used as a shop. A row of these container businesses line the Dundas West Skateboard Park “DUNBAT”
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The third face was on a restaurant in Yorkville in 2020. It’s gone now.
THE VIOLINIST
I’d love to learn to paint white on black!
WOW! Watch Lindsey dress during the performance. Stunning!
She painted Queens and Kings. She was the official portrait artist to Marie Antionette. Much has been recorded by and of Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun (1775 -1842).
Yet, who are some of the extended royalty whose VigéeLe Brun’s images linger on earth for posterity? I was privy to viewing 3 of Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun’s portraits at the Making Her Mark exhibit. All 3 are of royalty.
The Marquise de Pezay, and the Marquise de Rougé with Her Sons Alexis and Adrien
This massive painting (4.5 ‘ x 5.1’) painted in 1787, was one of my faves at the exhibit. It was almost like being with living people.
1787 – Oil on canvas
The Marquise de Pezay
There is not much written about The Marquise de Pezay nee: Caroline de Murat, and I cannot find the date of her birth. From an old Auvergne family, she was very beautiful and quite penniless.
In 1776 she married Alexandre-Frédéric-Jacques Masson , Marquis de Pezay. The Marquis de Pezay was a French Military officer of distinction, a writer and encyclopedist. In 1777, at only 36 years of age he died at Pezay Castle.
Vigée Le Brun and the Marquise de Pezay both fled Paris in 1789 shortly after the storming of the Bastille.
The Marquise de Pezay found refuge in Lausanne, Switzerland, where she died in 1794.
There is also a record of her in Heidelberg in 1791.
In researching Caroline de Murat, you will also find Caroline Murat is the name of Napoleon Bonaparte’s youngest sister.
Marquise de Rougé
Nee: Natalie Victurnienne de Rochechouart de Mortemart (1759 -1828). Her father was Jean Victor de Rochechouart de Mortemart. Her mother was Charlotte Nathalie De Manneville.
She wed in 1777 to Bonabes-Jean-Catherine-Alexis de Rougé, the 3rd Marquis de Rougé. Five years later, returning from the West Indies on a battleship, he died.
In 1789 she and her sons left France for Switzerland, but returned to France in 1790. At that time, they lived in seclusion at the Château de Moreuil with her husband’s aunt, the Duchess d’Elbeuf. In 1791, she emigrated to Heidelberg, Germany, along with her children, her mother, andthe Marquise de Pezay.
From the Journal of the Emigration -by: Count d’Espinchal (1748 – 1823) while living in Heidelberg, Germany. Published from the original manuscripts in 1812.
“I have found living here since the winter, the Duchess de Mortemart, mother of the Duke and of the Marquis de Mortemart, both of whom are deputies to the Estates-General … and both members of the majority of the conservative nobility. The Marquise de Rougé, their sister, a pretty and amiable widow, is here with her children (she looks more like their sister) … and Mme de Pezay … who is her intimate friend.”
She returned to Paris in 1798. Her lands had been expropriated and sold. So, she took room and board in a home run by former nuns. Her sons joined her in France in 1800. She died on 25 December 1828
Alexis and Adrien
Alexis Bonabes Louis Victurnien, Marquis de Rougé, ( 1778 – 1839) was a French military officer and Statesman.
In April 1804, he married Alexandrine Célestine Zoé Emmanuelle Thimarette de Crussol d’Uzes (1785–1866). They had 6 children.
Adrien Gabriel Victurnien de Rougé (1782 – 1838) was a statesman and distinguished soldier.
In 1809 he married Caroline de Forbin d’Oppède. They had 4 children.
The Comtesse de Cérès
Seems some scallywag royalty wormed its way into Vigée Le Brun’s life.
1794 – Oil on canvas
It appears as though Anne Marie Thérèse de Rabaudy Montoussin (1759 – 1834) married “The Roué himself”, Jean de Barry-Cérès when she was 18.
Jean de Barry-Cérès, from suspect lower nobility, may have added the “de” to his name. That was easy to do back then, and claim you were A somebody. It appears he earned a scrounged living by both legal and so/so illegal means (gambling parlours and pimping) .
Not only does there appear to be only a Jean Barry (no Cérès), but it is somewhat unclear if he did wed Anne Marie Thérèse de Rabaudy Montoussin, who would have been his second wife. Barry’s first wife was Ursule Dalmas de Vernongrese.
Anne Marie Thérèse de Rabaudy Montoussin apparently married “de Barry” when she was eighteen. This portrait was done in 1784. She would have been 25.
De Barry, the Roué, was persona extremely non-grata at the French Court. Yet, Vigée Le Brun befriended the Comtesse de Cérès.
The friendship did not last.
Vigée Le Brun was furious that gossip was accusing her of having an affair with the French Finance Minister, Charles Alexandre de Calonne; gossip fuelled by the actions of Madame de Cérès .
From the memoirs of Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun
“While I was painting her portrait, she did me an atrocious disservice. In her ingratiating way she asked me to lend her my horses and carriage to take her to the theater. The next morning I requested my horses for eleven o’clock. Coachman, horses, nothing had come back. I learned that Madame de Cérès had spent the night at the Finance Ministry.”
All assumed the affair was with Vigée Le Brun, as it was her coach that spent the night outside the Finance Ministry.
Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun
I’d like to take a moment here to say how awed I was standing in front of Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun’s paintings. They took my breath away. Rebecca Budd, curator of Chasing Art has, written an outstanding 7 part series onÉlisabeth Vigée Le Brun.
Below is the link to the first article. Just click on “NEXT POST” and work your way through this enchanting recounting of a remarkable woman in history, or I might say – Herstory!
Princess Anna Alexandrovna Galitzin (August 1763 — October 1842) was a Russian aristocrat of Georgian royal origin.
1797 – Oil on canvas
Anna was the daughter of the Tsarevich of Georgia. Growing up in Moscow, she knew a good deal of local power. This power was afforded her, because she was a member of the house of Bagration-Gruzinsky.
In 1785 she married the illegitimate son of Prince Aleksander Mikhailovich Golitsyn, Alexander Alexandrovich Litsyn. One year after his passing, in 1789, she married her third cousin once removed, Prince Boris Andreevicholitsyn. Together they had 8 children. Her husband died of a stroke in 1822.
Tsar Paul Icame to the Russian throne in 1796. In 1798 he promoted Prince Boris to lieutenant general. In 1800, Boris did something to anger a higher ranking officer. The result was that he, Anna and her family were “compelled to retire” to their estate, in the province of Vladimir.
In 1801 Alexander I came to power, and high society of St. Petersburg accepted the family back.
Back in St. Petersburg, Princess Anna hosted a most influential salon.
Vigée Le Brun was charging high prices when Princess Anna commissioned it in 1797. However, money was not an issue. Princess Anna possessed of one of the largest fortunes in the empire.
Also on display was the working drawing, in black and white chalk with stumping on paper.
It seems the gown Princess Anna is wearing was a house dress, nothing fancy. Also, for reasons of modesty, the sheer arm sleeves were apparently added after completion of the portrait.
Thank you for reading another post of “Making Her Mark”
To read all posts just click on the Making Her Mark banner at the top of the side bar!
Please click on the banner below to go to the research links page.
“Any moron can destroy, let’s create!” – Trent P. McDonald
That is a quote from our email exchange on September 18, 2025. We were working on a collaboration: his new song, some street art and a chat.
From Trent’s description on Youtube – The rainbow can mean whatever you want, but it is not about “Gay Pride” or anything, unless that fits you personally. I just think of rainbows as being the opposite of boxes.
We couldn’t quite settle on any of the samples I sent. Then I found a quadriptych in an alley in Cabbagetown. The colours were perfect for the rainbow he was using in his video.
Trent – I really love the dancers! I followed the link you sent and also the link that they have, to more info about the mural. It is all great.
Resa – It sounds like we should go with the Dancers. I’ve been thinking about it, too, and it does fit with your song and vice versa.
Trent – There is the freedom of the styles – from the kid’s drawings of buildings to the Matisse inspired abstract dancers, The color palette is great. It is very dynamic; the sense of movement is fantastic – not being boxed in at all! Free expression.
Trent – I am not sure if you want to get into the music nerd side of it, but some questions can centre around the time being in 7-4, 6-4 and 5-4 while most pop/rock music is 4-4 with a very occasional 3-4 (waltz-like).
Moving Elevation is the official title
Resa – The quadriptych was painted indoors on canvas. They were coated and moved outdoors onto an alley wall of a dance school.
Trent – There is a lot to be said about street art vs “traditional” art. It is interesting to have “indoor street art”.
Resa – I was thinking that, too!
Children worked with the artists and created the backgrounds.
Citadel & Companie is the dance company that commissioned this quadriptych.
Part of their program offers dance lessons to children.
“It is lit from the blue sky above, even if the sky is covered in clouds.”
The above words are Trent’s, from one of our mails. We were talking about why a pic he took, of a drawing of a trumpet he had done, tuned blue.
That sentence applies to much more than just a photograph. I see it as a philosophic metaphor. Music, in Trent’s life, was always a light from above.
Trent – “For the most part I try to be a very positive person – i.e., my Weekly Smile. Although I have written some “protest” songs lately and will continue to do so, I want to do it from a positive angle.”
Ghosts
The last panel of the quadriptych seemed somewhat apart from the other 3, because of the figures. My initial thoughts were of dancing ghosts.They now haunt.
Fiyero, one of his dogs had just died.
Trent – And thanks, Resa. Even though I drove down to the Cape yesterday so should be in a “happy place,” I’ll admit I am a little depressed today.
Resa – Take it easy out there, and be careful. We are not at our sharpest when grieving, or even just blue.
Trent – Some could be an after effect of losing Fiyero – Some could be just going from being on 100% of the time to being off. I have had some stomach issues that have nothing to do with stress that isn’t helping. The news and what is happening in my country is catching up to me as I sit here.
I suggested posting on the 16th of October, or just after. That would give us time to finish the Q&A!
Trent – Oh, the date sounds good. I will be off line from the afternoon of October 9 until maybe the morning of October 13. The 16th is perfect.
Resa -Write me tomorrow, or anytime! It doesn’t have to be about the post. Anything you want to say is okay by me.
Music Maker
Trent and I found our palship because of music. Oddly, inasmuch as we both love music and had a special spot for John Lennon, it was equipment, the hardware that instigated out first chats.
As my hubs is a musician/composer/producer, I’ve watched music equipment come and go: evolve from analog to digital, from the McLeyvier (ahead of its time & developed by a friend of ours) to the Synclavier (of which Trent had one).
Trent – Hi Resa, So, I decided to go ahead and do the cover of “Have You Ever Seen the Rain.” I just sketched it all out in a notation program (writing the notes, etc.) and have started to play around with it on the guitar. I changed keys again from what I do with my instructor to make the guitar part easier. I bumped it a little higher, but still not what CCR did – John Fogerty had a very high voice!
Anyway, thought you’d be interested to know that I am doing this. Most likely I will record over the weekend and put it out early next week.
This is what would have been our 5th post together. If you’d like to see the other 4, just click on the banner below. Trent did the drawing of John Lennon.
Pics taken by Resa – September 18, 2025
Toronto, Canada
The Artists:
& the children
Click on the children dancing on the left to go to Eden Remme Watt’s website
Click on the guy dancing by the CN Tower, (on the left), to read about Rebecca Remme.
What a beautiful and hectic city Toronto is. You feel it in the slideshow!
And they picked the best bird to name their Baseball team after.
Hey, look! It’s a José Bautista mural!
José Bautista
2008 – 2017
Famous for “The Bat Flip” Bautista was a 6 time all-star, with 288 homers across 10 seasons with Toronto. Click on the pic below to read what the CBC has to say!
He rejoined the Blue Jays on August 11, 2023 for 1 day and retired a Blue Jay.
Commissioned by The Toronto Blue Jays, Bautista attended the unveiling of this massive mural with his family.
You can see its gargantuaness in the pic to the left, by comparing to the teeny people in the lower right corner.
He even signed it, in gold paint!
This was not an easy mural to capture. Still, after I found a way over the fence and into the construction site, I shot lots, and got some good ones. A few more are in the slideshow.
This close up of a coach makes me laugh. Can you see why?
Bautista, one of the Blue Jay’s Gems!
“We must be painted on a time travel garage door.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because I see Cito Gaston!”
Cito Gaston
Gaston was the Blue Jays coach when Joe Carter hit the winning home run in the 1993 World Series. The Blue Jays won the title for 2 years in a row. (1992 & 1993) I always say they kept it for a 3rd year in 1994. That was the year of the big baseball strike, and there was noWorld Series.
My wings are waving the Jays on to victory, and my tail shows I’m a fan!
Liz– Thank you for hosting me on my blog tour for The Weight of Snow and Regret, Resa!
Resa – My pleasure, Liz!
Liz – Today I am very excited to shine the spotlight on one of the minor characters in the book, bandleader Sterling D. Weed. But first, here is what The Weight of Snow and Regret is all about.
For over 100 years, no one wanted to be sent to the Sheldon Poor Farm.
By 1968, no one wanted to leave.
Amid the social turmoil of 1968, the last poor farm in Vermont is slated for closure. By the end of the year, the twelve destitute residents remaining will be dispatched to whatever institutions will take them, their personal stories lost forever.
Hazel Morgan and her husband Paul have been matron and manager at the Sheldon Poor Farm for the past 20 years. Unlike her husband, Hazel refuses to believe the impending closure will happen. She believes that if she just cares deeply enough and works hard enough, the Sheldon Poor Farm will continue to be a safe haven for those in need, herself and Paul included.
On a frigid January afternoon, the overseer of the poor and the town constable from a nearby town deliver a stranger to the poor farm for an emergency stay. She refuses to tell them her name, where she came from, or what her story is. It soon becomes apparent to Hazel that whatever the woman’s story is, she is deeply ashamed of it.
Hazel fights to keep the stranger with them until she is strong enough to face, then resume, her life—while Hazel must face the tragedies of her own past that still haunt her.
Told with compassion and humor, The Weight of Snow & Regret tells the poignant story of what it means to care for others in a rapidly changing world.
For today’s tour stop, I will introduce you to a character who makes a cameo appearance in the novel, Sterling D. Weed, a historical figure known for being the oldest working bandleader in the state of Vermont. He worked as bandleader until his death in 2005 at age 104. He was also known for having the first integrated swing band in New England.
Truth be told, I couldn’t resist putting him in the novel. When my late brother George was in high school, he played saxophone in the Enosburg Falls Town Band with Sterling D. Weed as bandleader. In college, George played gigs with Weed’s Imperial Orchestra to earn money to live off-campus. How he loved to tell his Sterlin’ D. Weed stories!
Weed’s Imperial Orchestra appears in the novel in a brief scene when Hazel and Paul celebrate their first wedding anniversary. The first song they hear is the Weed’s Imperial Orchestra’s theme song, “The Wang Wang Blues.”
Click on the above pic, and a new page will open. You can listen to the music while you read!
Excerpt from “Newlywed” chapter
Hazel turned her attention to the raised stage. Seated behind their music stands, the members of Weed’s Imperial Orchestra wore fancy black suits and bow ties. She’d never seen anyone wear such a fancy suit before, much less a bow tie. Their shoes would be polished to a high shine, even though no one could see them. The man standing on the stage with his back to the dance floor must be Sterling D. Weed himself. When he turned to face the crowded dance floor, Hazel was surprised to see a man of about Paul’s age, smooth-faced, bespectacled, and balding. Except for the fancy suit and the saxophone on a strap around his neck, he looked like her high school algebra teacher.
“Welcome, one and all! The boys and I will start you off this evening with our theme song, a little foxtrot called ‘The Wang Wang Blues.’ If you don’t know the foxtrot, don’t worry. Come out on the dance floor anyway; you’ll pick it up soon enough. And if you don’t, there’s always next week.” He bent over and picked up a clarinet. “Ready, boys? A-one, a-two, a-three.”
The tempo was lively, the notes tumbling from the clarinet sparkling. The melody would not be denied, despite repeated kicks from the bass drum to keep it in check—nor could it keep the crowd in check, as they stepped and glided and twirled.
Sterling D. Weed announced the next song as “Sing, Sing, Sing,” but instead of a sing-along, the drums pounded out a primitive beat, seemingly of their own volition. The crowd cheered, and an explosion of brass blasted from the stage as the dancers flung themselves about the floor.
Paul’s eyes widened. He mouthed something, grabbed Hazel’s hand, and pointed behind him.
Outside, he kept hold of her hand and led her to the edge of the lake. “Jeezum. We coulda got killed in there.” He pointed to a large rock. “How about we listen from here?”
Now that she was no longer in danger of being kicked in the head or trampled to death, Hazel was perfectly content to listen to the rest of the song that seemed hell-bent on driving itself off a cliff.
About Elizabeth Gauffreau
“I am drawn to the inner lives of other people–what they care about, what they most desire, what causes them pain, what brings them joy.”
Click on About to read up on Liz, or on her name in smaller print to visit her blog!
The colours pierced my side vision from a half block away.
I should have known, even before I got to the door that it was painted by…
…tattoo artist extraordinaire, The Half Decent.
Just another piece of alley art I had to TEAR myself away from.
In real life, it appears black, white, red and silver. The pics weren’t capturing this, so I tried a slower shutter speed, which made the rest too, dark. Below is the comparison.
Normal shutter speed on the left. Slowest I can get on iPhone on the right.
Pano setting created a bluish overtone.
Pics taken by Resa – September 21, 2025
Toronto, Canada
The Artist:
The above fab song, Tattoo, was exhilaratingly performed by Loreen at 2023’s GNTM (Germany’s Next Top Model). Of the 5 finalists presented here, who do you think won?
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