Peach Ice Cream & Mourning Angels
My Dixon Festival Recap, Upcoming AGS Talk, and Supporting Teal L. Gray
Hi friends,
What a weekend! I had an absolute blast at the Dixon Cemetery Festival in Aledo, Texas. Not only did I make new friends, but I finally met some folks I’ve followed online for years—like Mike Rowlands! I also got to reconnect with longtime newsletter reader Tammy Love. It was great to see her again in person.
In the photo at the top, from left to right: Tammy and me, then Mike Rowlands, and finally Sarah Coleman. (As you can see, I caught Sarah in the act of reading my book Paranormal Texas. That made my day!)
The cemetery festival was packed with fun: headstone repair demos, square dancing, and my own cemetery symbolism talk. Add in wood-fired pizza and peach ice cream, and, well... how can you top that?
📍 Check out my Dixon Cemetery Festival Recap: I shared some photos and stories from the festival in this post: Dixon Cemetery Festival Highlights →
Up Next: AGS Conference & My Talk on June 19th
This week, I’m tuning in online for the Association for Gravestone Studies (AGS) conference. The in-person event is in York, Pennsylvania, but I’ll be attending (and presenting!) from home here in Texas.
If you’ve never heard of AGS, it’s a wonderful group for anyone who’s passionate about cemetery history, gravestone art, and preservation. I’ve learned so much from this community and highly recommend checking them out and becoming a member: gravestonestudies.org
🎤 My Presentation Airs June 19th!
Talk Title: Two Angels Seen Around the World: The Mona Lisa of Cemeteries & Rock of Ages.
This is a fast-paced, photo-rich presentation packed with striking imagery from cemeteries I’ve explored all over the world — we’re talking France, Romania, Australia, and even Indonesia. If you love beautiful monuments and symbolic sculpture, you won’t want to miss it!
Here are a few cemetery snapshots from my travels. All were taken by me and are featured in the talk:
🖥️ Want to watch it, too?
Right now, my paid Patreon supporters can watch an early version of the talk, BUT after the AGS conference wraps up, I’ll make the full video available to all my Patreon members, even those on the free tier!
So even if you’re not a paid member, you can still catch the talk. Just make sure you’ve joined my Patreon:
Support Teal L. Gray – Victorian Mourning Goods for a Great Cause
Many of you know my dear friend and fellow taphophile, Teal L. Gray. She’s currently undergoing chemotherapy and raising funds for her treatment by offering treasures from her personal collection.
📸 The photo collage at the top of this section shows just a few snapshots from our many escapades over the years: Teal and I have explored historic cemeteries, ghost towns, haunted hotspots, and attended many book events together.
🖤 Teal’s eBay shop, The Lavender Crow, is filled with beautifully curated:
Victorian mourning goods
Hair jewelry
Curios and more
💸 She’s recently discounted her store items, so it’s a great time to shop—and every purchase helps.
🛍️ Visit The Lavender Crow on eBay →
🙏 Prefer to donate directly? Here’s her GoFundMe →
Thank you for considering it. Teal means the world to me!
✈️ 🇮🇹 Join Me for a Tombstone Tour of Italy!
It’s official: I head back to Italy this fall as the symbolism guide for a truly unique cemetery-themed adventure! Hosted by Lisa Statkus, this immersive tour is based in Rome and kicks off on October 31st — in other words, Halloween!
Together, we’ll explore:
🪦 Ancient Etruscan tombs
🕯️ Roman catacombs
🎨 Monumental cemeteries bursting with art and symbolism
If you’ve ever dreamed of cemetery-hopping in Italy, this is your chance! Spots are limited, so don’t wait.
👉 Click here for full details and to join the tour
Family Time & A Northwest Detour
Next week, Larry and I head up to Washington State to visit my sweet mama, who’s now in her 90s! Last summer, I couldn’t hug her because of a COVID outbreak in her assisted living community. I had to stand on the sidewalk and holler up to her balcony. Sure hope this visit is a little more hands-on. 💞
While I’m up there, I may sneak in a historic cemetery visit or two—stay tuned!
Until next time,
Tui ✨
Tui’s Travel & Tombstones
(Feel free to Friend me on Facebook! I’m the only Tui Snider out there. I share lots of cemetery photos and updates there, too, especially when I travel.)
p.s. Know any interesting historic cemetery events that other newsletter readers might enjoy? Hit reply and let me know—I’d love to help spread the word!