I spend a lot of time in cemeteries -- my particular area of interest is New England slate markers from between 1650-ish and 1825-ish (most willows and urns make my eyes glaze over), the men who carved them and ligatures on gravestones. Also the carver John Just Geyer and his father Henry Christian Geyer.

I do rubbings, photographs and transcriptions. I collect books on the extended subject of gravestones, funerary art and customs, epitaphs, etc.

But primarily, I think, I'm fascinated with stone. And the history. With the help and advice of Fud Benson and Doug Coffin, I'm learning how to cut letterforms in slate (if I can steal enough time to actually do it).

I also sort of "chase" folk music (and lore) related markers. Tom and I discovered Professor Child over 10 years ago. We've also located Timothy Myrick who was the fellow bit by the rattlesnake in "Springfield Mountain" (He's actually buried in Wilbraham, MA.)

There are batwinged death's heads in Hallowell, Maine, and I've found full-rigged ships on both slate and marble markers, but so far have not found any representation of squid.