GRAB THE CEMETERY BAG.... Libby, my longtime roommate and genealogical co-conspirator, put together what we affectionately refer to as the cemetery bag. It is a canvas shopping bag we keep stocked with items we might need while cemetery-hopping. Cemeteries vary widely in condition, and it includes items needed for both the well- tended and nearly-abandoned, as the following list will illustrate. What you might include in your own cemetery bag is also dependent on your chosen method or methods of documentation. Lib and I like to take written notes, photographs, and, depending on the condition of the stone, rubbings. A good rubbing can often help you make out dates and names that are difficult to read on very worn stones. We have found that nonfusible interfacing (available at fabric stores) and jumbo crayons (generally intended for preschoolers) give good results. The spray bottle and brush are handy for removing lichens, bird droppings, and other items that often form a kind of gravestone patina. Remember - be gentle! These are irreplaceable monuments we are dealing with. The plastic putty knife is handy for clearing encroaching soil and sod from ground-level stones, while minimizing the possibility of scratching or chipping them. Most of the other items are self- explanatory. Small notebook Pens and pencils Camera Film Insect repellent Band-Aids Work gloves Knee pads One quart spray bottle of water Small nylon-bristle scrub brush Plastic putty knife Tape measure Jumbo crayons Roll of medium to heavy weight nonfusible interfacing Wide masking tape Shears Spare socks Something to snack on