Maurice- Have you run across any really good method of getting rid of chiggers once they've burrowed in? I've tried kerosene and fingernail polish with no luck-Barrett ----- Original Message ----- From: "jmduke" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Monday, April 17, 2006 10:26 AM Subject: Re: [VA-HIST] cemetery > Phebe, > > I've spent a good bit of time rummaging around old cemeteries and would > suggest the following: > > Wear the heaviest shoes you've got. > > Wear socks and tuck the bottoms of the pants in the shoes, or if you've > got boots wear them instead of the shoes. (Whatever you do, don't wear a > dress.) > > Douse your socks as well as the bottoms of the pants and sleeves with a > heavy, heavy, dose of "Off." > > Careful where you walk. Many graves in old cemeteries are badly sunken > and you can easily trip and fall. > > Wear a long-sleeve shirt, no matter how hot it is, and button the sleves > and the collar. > > Take a stick and run it around any tombstones before you stoop down to > study them. That'll help with the snake problem. (Snakes, when the > weather is hot, like to find cool places.) > > One of the great problems is chiggers, so as soon as you get home > remove all clothing and take a good soapy shower. Make sure to wash > completely under your arms and in the groin area. And for heaven's sake, > don't put any of the clothes you wore to the cemetery back on. > > Yes talcum powder, flour of corn starch will help bring up info on the > stones. (Flour's cheapest!)Take a paint brush so you can both apply it > and then use the brush to also remove it from outside the lettering. > You might want to take a strong flashlight and use it to skim the light > across the lettering from the side. Side lighting works best to bring > up detail. > > I hope this helps. Happy hunting! > > Maurice Duke > > > > > > Phebe wrote: > >> I have finally located an old cemetery and have gotten permission, >> from the >> owner, to walk through it. The cemetery is very old and the owner >> tells me >> that she remembers her grandmother telling her that people came in the >> 1930's to look at it. Since then no one has been in there to look or >> clean. >> >> My question to the group: what dangers await me in an old cemetery. >> What >> should I look out for (snakes etc.). How best can I protect myself. >> >> I have been told to take baking flour -- that will help bring the old >> carvings out. >> >> Any more tips or advise. >> >> thanks for your help. >> >> Phebe Morgan >> >> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions >> at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html >> >> > > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions > at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html