Thanks for the information. I was planning on the end of August beginning of September. I live in California. Are the snakes poisonous ? I have been trying to study maps from the civil war and locate properties and where cemeteries are. Thank you Tiffany

Depends on the snake. You might want to take a quick online course of poisonous snakes. As you can see from my signature line, I do a lot of cemetery photography, so here's some advice: <G> 1. Buy hiking boots that come above the ankles. I bought a cheap pair from Walmart. They don't have to be high quality, just protection from snakes, ticks and chiggers (if you don't know what chiggers are, you are DEFINITELY not from the south.) 2. Carry a fully charged cordless phone. If yours has analog, as well as digital reception, all the better. (Cemeteries are rarely near cell towers) 3. WEAR bug spray and sunscreen. You will get busy and forget the time. Be prepared. Also wear JEANS or long pants. No shorts or skirts. Pants give you added protection against bugs and snake bites. 4. Carry something to cut back weeds. Big brush should be avoided. THINK SNAKES We also carry a small whisk broom for getting rid of dirt and dust. If you move a flower arrangement, PUT IT BACK. 5. Ask permission before entering a cemetery. It might be your great-great grandfather, but your second cousin living next door and his rifle don't know that. I promise he will shoot and ask questions at the emergency room later. Don't risk it. 6. Buy a good digital camera that uses AA batteries and LOTS of memory. Take lots of images from lots of angles. You won't regret it. The camera batteries that come with the camera don't last that much longer than a good pack of AA batteries (name brand ONLY) and you can't buy those specialty batteries at the convenient store in down town Podunk Holler. 7. Snakes HAVE NO SEASON. The reason snakes hang out in cemeteries is that they are 1) quiet (so make lots of noise). 2) They have large stones which hold heat (try not to get too close to large flat tombstones) 3) They are usually near woods which are full of food (be especially careful in wooded cemeteries. Even in winter, on warm days, snakes will come out to warm themselves. While they are more prevalent in the spring and fall when the days are cool and animals are breeding (think food), they can be seen in the south year round. Just because you don't see him, doesn't mean he doesn't see you by the way. Take care when you see one and avoid it as much as possible. EXCEPT: If you can, take lots of pictures from afar. We once saw one that was almost 11 feet long. I didn't take pictures and now I totally regret it. 8. Take snacks. You probably won't be passing many restaurants along the way. But drink as little as possible. (ditto bathrooms. <G>) 9. Take a partner if at all possible. Often when we get hurt, we are unable to call for help. Know where you are. 911 can not find you based on the call from a cell phone. Better yet, get the local numbers for police and rescue before you leave to go out for the day. Carry a good map, so you can give them good directions to where you are. But most importantly before you get out of the car, both partners should know where you are. 10. Have a business card printed up with your contact information now before you leave. They are cheap and give you something to leave with you when you go to that house to announce your arrival. The lady at the door is most likely married to a distant cousin. They will know someone who is into family history. Leave two. One for them to know you are legit and one to pass onto that someone who is into family history. You won't regret the cost. 11. And finally, once you get home, POST THE PICTURES ONLINE. Save the rest of your cousins from having to traipse through a snake filled cemetery. <G> Be sure and take a good bath when you get back to the hotel. Have your partner check your hair for ticks. You are planning on coming at a time we here in the south call Summer. It will be very hot and muggy. Take a change of clothes with you so you can change while you are out. Take lots of water, and stay hydrated. Make sure you have your contact information on both you and the car incase you get lost or hurt. You probably won't need it as we in the south love our "company", but if you do, you will be glad you took the time. Have a good anti-itch cream in your suitcase in case you get a tick or chigger bite. Don't scratch, it just makes it worse (that was me channeling my grandmother. LOL) P. S. The beautiful white weed on the sides of our highways, is known officially as "Queen Anne's Lace." We call it chigger weed. If you decide to pick it, be prepared to be itchy. <G> Teresa Ghee Elliott All links start with http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~rutherfordcemetery and then add Rutherford Co., TN cemeteries: see above TMG sentence structures: /TMG.html Descendants of James Edde of Bedford County, TN /EDDE/index.htm -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2005 10:41 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [VACAROLI] Re:Locust Grove, 1 mi. S. of Central Point, Va. Thanks for the information. I was planning on the end of August beginning of September. I live in California. Are the snakes poisonous ? I have been trying to study maps from the civil war and locate properties and where cemeteries are. Thank you Tiffany ==== VACAROLI Mailing List ==== Please contact the Caroline County mailing list manager at [email protected] with any comments, questions or problems you may have regarding your membership.