Hi everyone, my name is Taetske, and welcome to my web page
Feel free to contact me at fincalaparra1@gmail.com
Winter in the south of Spain
One of my hobbies, stones
As a small child, stones fascinated me. I would search for stones in our garden and I would find interesting pieces. My mother, who was very good at it, would show me what to look for.
On our driveway, there was medium-sized gravel that came from the river Rhine. When you come to think of it, this gravel must have come from far away, perhaps even from different countries being pushed over thousands of years by the force of water.
The small fossils or the imprint of fossils I found ever so exciting. I could spend hours searching for unusual stones.
The photo below is of Rhenen, the small town where I spent my childhood.
The Cunera church of Rhenen
A special stone from the garden
One time I found a stone nearly as big as my fist and my mother took it to the dentist in our village.
He cut and polished it. It turned out to be a beautiful agate and I still have that stone lying in an old showcase in my living room. I have a small collection of pieces from different countries.
Agate found in the garden
Unusual patterns on the floor tiles
My Fathers’ office in Holland, he was the director of a water company, supplying water to 7 cities, had a wonderful fossil stone floor from Germany with the imprint of Ferns and Leafs. As a little girl, I would look at the unique patterns and imagine entire stories around them. I have continued my search for interesting stones in my adult life.
In 2010, I made an interesting trip to Germany. One highlight was the visit to the world-famous stone museum in Idar Oberstein.
There are many lovely stone museums in the world. Here is a list of 5 special ones.
A great find on a field in Malaga
On an expedition with my metal detector
A few years ago, while using my metal detector in the south of Spain where I now live, I found a wonderful composite of seashells cemented into a big single stone. I found it some 5 km away from the sea lying on a field which had been recently plowed, how good it was not damaged.
Going to different countries, I always try to find something interesting for my collection.
A gorgeous book you should not miss
Finding a fossil is really exciting. This book will answer the many questions you will have.
- The origin of fossils
- How to start your own fossil Collection
- What kinds of fossils can be commonly found
- The age of fossils
- How scientists find and preserve fossils
- How to identify kinds of fossils
- How the flood-affected fossil formation
- The Geologic Column Diagram
- The difference between evolutionists’ and creationists’ views on fossils
- The “four Cs” biblical creation
- The different kinds of rocks fossils are found in coal and oil formation
An afterthought
I turned 71 in May 2021. Over the years the collection of special stones has grown. I enjoy looking at them while remembering where and how I found them. On a trip to Portugal, I found a special fossil. You can read the story here.
3Years ago I got a rock tumbler for my birthday. I can tell you it is great fun to see the beautiful polished stones at the end of the process. Here is a nice video where you can see how it goes.
Before you leave, take a look at Recommendations. It is a special page I have made for you. It holds a collection of things you might find interesting.
Source: My life
Photo Source: Private
Comments
Danielle
I have this friend of mine who says ever since she was a young girl stones relayed messages to her. We became friends when our children went to the same school. I really found that fascinating. I kept thinking that one day we would sit and really have a good chat about it. Unfortunately she moved and now lives a bit far and so the intended conversation never took place. But things like this always fascinate me.
I really enjoyed being at your site today. It has so many interesting things and fascinating information. Thank you for sharing Taetske.
🙂
~Danielle
admin
Good Morning Danielle,
What a shame you never had this talk with you friend. That happens in life, friends come and go. I have friends worldwide and some of them I have known for more than 45 years and we still are in contact even if we might not see each other for 20 years or so. I am happy you are enjoying yourself reading my things.
All the best, regards, Taetske
Danielle
It is a shame. I will have to make an effort to meet up one day and spend a day together. I have to hear that story. 🙂
admin
Hello Danielle,
One should cherish one’s, friends. Over the years I have lost many as they started a new journey. It is sad to see your group of friends diminish over time. Important to make new and younger friends have been talking with Michael about that, as we now belong to the oldies, only on my passport not in the spirit of course.
Regards Taetske
Fleur
Taetske that is a lovely story re the stones. My son recently has participated in a stone project where stones are labelled with the postcode of where the stone is from and then children leave these stones in public playgrounds and post on a social media website. The children are all engaged interested to see how far these stones can travel in this interaction game.
Taetske
Good afternoon Fleur,
Thank you for visiting my website and leaving a comment. As you could read stones have fascinated me since I was a small child. In March I made a trip to the south of Portugal and was so lucky to find a beautiful fossil on the beach. I wrote a post about it and put some private photos. I hope you will visit again and then have a look at it.
What a nice and original idea of having stones with their postal code on them. Like that one can trace their route. I understand the children are excited, I would be too, it is a bit like a message in a bottle. Did you see that film? I cried my eyes out.
Regards, Taetske
Karen
Your love of stones reminds me of my daughter’s love. Since a little girl, she has collected stones and rocks from everywhere we visit. There are shoe boxes full of stones and small rocks collected over time, stacked in her old room. She is now grown, married and expecting her first baby next month. I know her child will love collecting stones as she did and will be adding to her collection.
Thanks for posting this…it brought back sweet memories.
Karen
Taetske
Good Morning Karen,
Thank you for visiting my website. Thinking about the passt often bring those nice memories back. I still love to go rock hunting. In 2016 I was invited to the US. From Denver over Idaho to end in Seattle. Stayed at some lovely places like Leavenworth/WA where we went into the mountains and found some interesting pieces which we took to Spain. This year we made a trip to Portugal and found a great fossil, perhaps you like to have a look.https://motherearthstreasures.com/a-trip-to-the-south-of-portugal.
How nice to be welcoming a new life into the family, best wishes on this happy event.
Regards, Taetske
STACI Kreegher
We have so much in common!
I also collect different rocks and stones (and shells).
I find them so fascinating and finding a fossilised rock is even more exciting, like you I imagine where is may have been and where it has picked up it’s ‘layers’ over the years.
I love this article.
Taetske
Good afternoon Stacy,
Thank you for visiting my website and leaving a comment. I hope you downloaded your free PDF? Tulip widget
For my birthday in May, I got a stone tumbler as a present. We have been searching for stones at rivers and on beaches and have found pretty things. The tumbling process takes a week and there are 4 steps so one is busy for 1 month. Each Saturday we go to the garage, clean and prepare for the new round. The best place was in Cabo de Gata = Cat Bay in the south of Spain, I wrote a post about that trip.
For me, the most special thing I ever found was on a Portuguese beach, here is the link with private photos and story.
https://motherearthstreasures.com/a-trip-to-the-south-of-portugal
Regards, Taetske
Henry
Hi Taetske. I have been following your site but I didn’t know you were born in Netherlands. I always thought you were from Spain. Rhenen is a nice and cozy place. And I can also relate to your childhood of collecting stones. I had some magnificent stones I also collected as a child. My main focus was on outstanding colors.
Taetske
Good afternoon Henry,
Thank you for your visit and comment. Nice to see you again. I hope you remember you can download a free PDF of your choice at the tulip widget?
My Dutch parents emigrated to Australia in 1949. I was born there in 1950. 3 years later we all went back to the Netherlands where I spent my youth.
Rhenen is a special place and I have fond memories of those times. When the Rhine would flood the banks and I went skating. One winter it was so cold the river froze completely. I still have a photo of my Mother and me on a sled on the Rhine.
Rhenen got town right in the middle ages and has the second-highest church tower in Holland. I am sending you the link to Saint Cunera, that is quite a story. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Cunera
Now that we are not in alarm anymore in Spain, we hope to make trips again and collect some new stones for my rock tumbler.
Regards, Taetske