Since I've not really stayed strong in the habit of blogging, I'm going to resolve to do more of it--for this one and my work one.
So here's the latest in cemetery news ...
At least he had a reason: Man takes sledge hammer to grave marker when woman refuses to date him (yeah, that's gonna help)
http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/pennsylvania/20091110_ap_sledgehammeredgravemarkertobereplaced.html
Daily Telegraph helps launch campaign for Britain's First National War Cemetery
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/6514299/Daily-Telegraph-helps-launch-campaign-for-National-War-Cemetery.html
New York Marble Cemetery: The Cemetery Down The Alley
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nick-carr/the-cemetery-down-the-all_b_350764.html
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
As October ends ...
It's officially October now at the end of the month. Rainy, moist, cold then warm and humid. The smell of fallen leaves and rain water.
When I think of October at other times of the year, what comes to mind are vibrant colors, cool crisp air, pumpkins and leaves. When I think of Halloween, first I think of all the cool stuff ... then of rainy, yucko nights trick-or-treating. Well, October is here in her yuckiest. Ah, well. It's all good no matter what. It's fall!
But as the ground gets wetter, the winds get stronger and the days get shorter, it means there is less time to spend in the cemeteries. On the bright side, there's more time to curl up with those cemetery books you've been wanting to read. You know the ones, they've been piling up on your shelves while you've been out among the graves snapping pictures.
If you don't have a stack of books ready, though, here's a list for you to check out:
- Cemetery Walk (of course!) by Minda Powers-Douglas
- Stories in Stone by Doug Keister
- Translating Tombstones by Minda (though this is best used out in the field as a reference)
- Cemetery Stories by Katherine Ramsland
- Your Guide to Cemetery Research by Sharon DeBartolo Carmack
- Cemeteries and Gravemarkers by Richard Meyer (great essays/papers throughout!)
- Stones and Bones of New England by Lisa Rogak (I'm going to finally read this one myself ... been sitting on my shelf, waiting)
- New Orleans Cemeteries by Robert Florence (love it!)
What about you? What cemetery books do you like best or have on your shelf to read?
Happy Halloween!
Minda
www.TheCemeteryClub.com
When I think of October at other times of the year, what comes to mind are vibrant colors, cool crisp air, pumpkins and leaves. When I think of Halloween, first I think of all the cool stuff ... then of rainy, yucko nights trick-or-treating. Well, October is here in her yuckiest. Ah, well. It's all good no matter what. It's fall!
But as the ground gets wetter, the winds get stronger and the days get shorter, it means there is less time to spend in the cemeteries. On the bright side, there's more time to curl up with those cemetery books you've been wanting to read. You know the ones, they've been piling up on your shelves while you've been out among the graves snapping pictures.
If you don't have a stack of books ready, though, here's a list for you to check out:
- Cemetery Walk (of course!) by Minda Powers-Douglas
- Stories in Stone by Doug Keister
- Translating Tombstones by Minda (though this is best used out in the field as a reference)
- Cemetery Stories by Katherine Ramsland
- Your Guide to Cemetery Research by Sharon DeBartolo Carmack
- Cemeteries and Gravemarkers by Richard Meyer (great essays/papers throughout!)
- Stones and Bones of New England by Lisa Rogak (I'm going to finally read this one myself ... been sitting on my shelf, waiting)
- New Orleans Cemeteries by Robert Florence (love it!)
What about you? What cemetery books do you like best or have on your shelf to read?
Happy Halloween!
Minda
www.TheCemeteryClub.com
Thursday, October 8, 2009
One event added, another cancelled
Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it to Michigan for the Victorian Halloween event.
BUT, I will be giving a gravestone rubbing demonstration/talk during the Apple Festival this weekend in LeClaire, Iowa! Be there at 1 p.m. to learn about this cool artwork that allows you to read unreadable gravestones and "capture" them to take with you.
All the best,
Minda
www.TheCemeteryClub.com
BUT, I will be giving a gravestone rubbing demonstration/talk during the Apple Festival this weekend in LeClaire, Iowa! Be there at 1 p.m. to learn about this cool artwork that allows you to read unreadable gravestones and "capture" them to take with you.
All the best,
Minda
www.TheCemeteryClub.com
Friday, September 18, 2009
The latest
I'm excited about the approach of Halloween. I'm looking into traveling up to Michigan to take part in "A Victorian Haunting Experience" with my friend Scary Amy Williamson. That takes place Oct. 30-31. I really hope to make it. If I do, I'll be presenting a workshop on gravestone rubbing on Oct. 31. (For more info: http://www.amywilliamson.net/)
I'm planning to be at the Illinois State Genealogical Society annual conference Oct. 24 in Elgin, Illinois. I'll have a booth. Should be fun! http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ilsgs/
Other things I'm doing? Making haunted dollhouse furniture! How cool is that? Very. Check some out here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7268393
I gave cemetery symbolism tours last Saturday at Oakdale Memorial Gardens' Forget-Me-Not Victorian Day in Davenport, Iowa. It was a great time. Thanks to all who participated!
On top of all that, I just finished by latest book "Chippiannock Cemetery" a few weeks ago. It's all about Chippiannock Cemetery, a garden cemetery in Rock Island, Illinois. It was established in 1856, and it's gorgeous. It's still active and will be for hundreds of years to come. It will be published by Arcadia in 2010.
For other things I've been doing or will be doing, check out my website: www.TheCemeteryClub.com
Love and spooky things,
-Minda
I'm planning to be at the Illinois State Genealogical Society annual conference Oct. 24 in Elgin, Illinois. I'll have a booth. Should be fun! http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ilsgs/
Other things I'm doing? Making haunted dollhouse furniture! How cool is that? Very. Check some out here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7268393
I gave cemetery symbolism tours last Saturday at Oakdale Memorial Gardens' Forget-Me-Not Victorian Day in Davenport, Iowa. It was a great time. Thanks to all who participated!
On top of all that, I just finished by latest book "Chippiannock Cemetery" a few weeks ago. It's all about Chippiannock Cemetery, a garden cemetery in Rock Island, Illinois. It was established in 1856, and it's gorgeous. It's still active and will be for hundreds of years to come. It will be published by Arcadia in 2010.
For other things I've been doing or will be doing, check out my website: www.TheCemeteryClub.com
Love and spooky things,
-Minda
Friday, July 10, 2009
1,500-year-old burial ground needs your help
Make your voice known on this!
Oxford, Alabama Destroying A 1500-Year-Old Indian Mound To Build A Sam's Club
Read this blog to learn about how this burial mound is being destroyed and how you can help stop it.
http://www.deepfriedkudzu.com/2009/07/oxford-alabama-destroying-1500-year-old.html
Oxford, Alabama Destroying A 1500-Year-Old Indian Mound To Build A Sam's Club
Read this blog to learn about how this burial mound is being destroyed and how you can help stop it.
http://www.deepfriedkudzu.com/2009/07/oxford-alabama-destroying-1500-year-old.html
Friday, June 12, 2009
Slacker blogger, busy writer/photographer
Hello, everyone! It's been ages, I know. So here's a quick update.
I'm speaking at the Green County Genealogical Society conference tomorrow in Monroe, Wis., on cemetery art and giving a workshop on gravestone rubbings. I can't wait! Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE talking cemeteries!
I'll also be teaching these classes in the fall:
- Digging into Local History through Our Cemeteries -
Learn about Quad Cities history in this fascinating and unique class. The class will focus on three cemeteries: Chippiannock in Rock Island, Riverside in Moline and Oakdale Memorial Gardens in Davenport. This is the perfect class for those interested in history, genealogy and, of course, cemeteries. Ms. Powers-Douglas is the author of the recently published books “Cemetery Walk” and “Translating Tombstones” and is the editor of “Epitaphs Magazine.” If you have questions for the instructor ahead of time, e-mail them to minda.epitaphsmag@gmail.com.
Saturday, Sept. 5, 2-4 p.m.
Rock Island, Ill.
Cost and location TBA
- Class name: D.I.Y. Book Publishing -
Do you have a book that you want to get published but don’t know the first thing about it? Do you want to write a book but you just want to print a small amount of books for family and friends? In this class you will learn from a self-published author, what steps are involved in self-publishing, the positives and negatives of using print-on-demand, and how to publish with little to no money. You may e-mail advance questions to instructor Minda Powers-Douglas (author of “Cemetery Walk,” “Translating Tombstones” and editor of “Epitaphs Magazine”) via minda.epitaphsmag@gmail.com.
This is a great class for genealogists and taphophiles who want to do more with their research.
Saturday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m. to noon
Rock Island, Ill.
Cost and location TBA
Aside from working away on my book "Chippiannock Cemetery," which will be out later this year or early next year, I'll be working on the new issue of Epitaphs Magazine soon. So if you don't hear from me for another spell, that's why!
Now get off your computer and get into those cemeteries!
Minda
I'm speaking at the Green County Genealogical Society conference tomorrow in Monroe, Wis., on cemetery art and giving a workshop on gravestone rubbings. I can't wait! Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE talking cemeteries!
I'll also be teaching these classes in the fall:
- Digging into Local History through Our Cemeteries -
Learn about Quad Cities history in this fascinating and unique class. The class will focus on three cemeteries: Chippiannock in Rock Island, Riverside in Moline and Oakdale Memorial Gardens in Davenport. This is the perfect class for those interested in history, genealogy and, of course, cemeteries. Ms. Powers-Douglas is the author of the recently published books “Cemetery Walk” and “Translating Tombstones” and is the editor of “Epitaphs Magazine.” If you have questions for the instructor ahead of time, e-mail them to minda.epitaphsmag@gmail.com.
Saturday, Sept. 5, 2-4 p.m.
Rock Island, Ill.
Cost and location TBA
- Class name: D.I.Y. Book Publishing -
Do you have a book that you want to get published but don’t know the first thing about it? Do you want to write a book but you just want to print a small amount of books for family and friends? In this class you will learn from a self-published author, what steps are involved in self-publishing, the positives and negatives of using print-on-demand, and how to publish with little to no money. You may e-mail advance questions to instructor Minda Powers-Douglas (author of “Cemetery Walk,” “Translating Tombstones” and editor of “Epitaphs Magazine”) via minda.epitaphsmag@gmail.com.
This is a great class for genealogists and taphophiles who want to do more with their research.
Saturday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m. to noon
Rock Island, Ill.
Cost and location TBA
Aside from working away on my book "Chippiannock Cemetery," which will be out later this year or early next year, I'll be working on the new issue of Epitaphs Magazine soon. So if you don't hear from me for another spell, that's why!
Now get off your computer and get into those cemeteries!
Minda
Sunday, March 15, 2009
A Tribute to Mel Blanc
I've been asked many times what my favorite epitaph or gravestone is. And while I do really like "I told you I was sick," I cannot say that it's my favorite. My favorite epitaphs is carved on a grave I have never seen in person. Mel Blanc's in Hollywood forever. I know no more fitting an epitaph than his:
"That's All Folks"
Mel Blanc
Man of 1000 Voices
Beloved Husband and Father
1908-1989
Today's tribute to Mel Blanc is not just because of his grave marker. It's because of the man. After my daughter and I came home this morning from picking up doughnuts, we found that my husband had put in a documentary about Mr. Blanc. I believe it's from the Looney Tunes Golden Collection. I didn't realize that he did so many Hanna Barbera voices as well. He was the voice of Captain Caveman! My favorite! I love how Captain Caveman would just randomly pull things out of all the hair covering his body. Anything from a club to a piano or something.
Garry Owen (announcer and voice of Space Ghost) called him "the top voice in the history of animation." I completely agree.
Mr. Blanc, you are dearly missed.
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