Finding Money
March 19, 2012 * * * * * Posted by: Ginnie 
De Tijd Vliegt = Time Flies
Monnickendam, Netherlands
Whether it's a windmill, a lighthouse, a weathervane, a water tower...or as in this case, a gable stone on the front of a brick building...whenever I find one, I feel like I've just found money!
Just like I still feel whenever I find a penny on the sidewalk! [And yes, I still embarrass my kids when I bend down to pick one up.]
Years ago when then-husband and I were in ministry to college students in Southern California, they gave us a metal detector just for fun. Actually, I think it was for Bill's birthday. They knew we loved taking our 2 kids to the beach every possible weekend, summer or winter, to fly kites and body-surf the waves.
Picture it now: first Bill, then me, then the kids, one by one, all searching for treasures hidden in the sand. We knew you could find rings and watches and whatever...and coins, of course. Each of us had our own fantasy of hitting the jackpot. But who would hit it first!
What is it about that EUREKA hope of finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Now that St. Paddy's Day has come and gone, many will have had their visions of finding treasures untold totally dashed...never really believing their gold was right there in front of them all along.
And sometimes it's not just money. It's better than money!
Of all the things I "collect" with my camera here in the Netherlands, gevelstenen (gable stones) rank right up there at the top. Lucky for me, they can be found in the city centers of almost every Dutch village or city, just waiting to be found. I look up all the time on those photo hunts, holding my breath...expectant with childlike bliss to find whatever trinket is there just for the taking.
Now here's where the fun takes off. There are Dutch databases for windmills (1173+) and lighthouses (40) and water towers (175)...AND FOR GABLE STONES (a gazillion)...to help you find where they are.
As for gable stones, there are so many all over the Netherlands, you have to click on a city in the database to find out exactly how many and on what street. In Amsterdam, for instance, there are over 800. When I lived there half of every month for two years, I "collected" over 500 of them. Talk about a jackpot! Here in Gorinchem where I live now, there are only 36. But all are treasures, as good for me as money!
In Monnickendam, which we visited a couple weeks ago, there are 60+ gable stones. In the 2 hours we were there, I "collected" 33 of them. The one above is my favorite and is the one where I immediately thought of us women here at V&V. Once home, I went to the database and found it is a young whipper-snapper from 2003...compared to one I found from 1611, for instance.
"Finding money" means different things to different people, of course. It certainly says a lot about us what we even call "money" or treasure. But I can tell you this, when I find it, whatever it is, time stands still...even if it's trying to tell me otherwise. And even if I can't take it with me!
Reader Comments (28)
That's so fascinating about the gable stones and how there are so many that they've actually compiled a directory. And how wonderful that you've been collecting them - like found and treasured pieces. It's like uncovering a gold mine - bit by bit...one penny at a time.
Wouldn't it be great to put together a book or compendium (so to speak) of all of them? A book of 'found money'???
Love this gable stone. Love all of the different measures of time.
Just this morning I spoke to my friend, who was in Deventer last week, telling me about all the lovely gevels over there. Have you already been there?
Are gable stones a Dutch thing, or do they exist in other countries too? Now you got me triggered, I want to know more, see if I can find some in my neighbourhood.
I love the concept of 'collecting' things with your camera. I've never thought of images quite that way before, but my goodness, it does make sense.
Collections are totally fun. I love that you do this. I am especially intrigued by gablestones now, because we are watching "Lark Rise to Candleford," a BBC series about these two small communities in Victorian England. One of the man characters is a carver, and he has been chipping away at a gablestone for the school, without the rector's permission, and without payment, just because he so loves to carve.
Our sermon this Sunday was about the treasures of your heart - I think that finding these treasures along the beach would be more valuable than anything you could possible buy...
What a fascinating story, Ginnie! I've seen stone carvings on cathedrals in England and Europe but I never heard the term "gablestone." Thanks for helping me learn something new! I agree with Marcie: what a fun book this would be.
It is truly wonderful to find such joy in photographing images that mean so much to you, Ginnie.
I completely understand what you mean when you say "time stands still".
reading the comments you inspired is....finding money this monday morning. thanks for making us all winners at life's slots.
Love this, Ginnie! ~ very good share.
This is a collection I have never heard of before. What a treasure!
This so reminds me when I go out on photo shoots and when you see "it" your heart stops! Wonderful post and I can't wait to see it all in person during my upcoming travels!
Yes! The images I find and the memories I preserve with my camera are truly "treasures" ... in every sense of the word!
You'll never run out of riches to find because your eyes are wide open all the time to receive them! I love this gable stone. I needed your cheery post about finding riches today because I'm down with a miserable cold. So thanks for cheering me up. As always, you stuck a chord with me and reminded me to go out and find some riches for myself... as soon as I'm over this miserable cold! I do hope to rally enough later to do a post on my blog. And to visit In Soul for a feast for my eyes. :-)
On our photo hunts I always have my eyes open for gevelstenen. I know that you love them and it is such a pleasure to see the stars in your eyes after you uploaded the pictures to the computer.
These pictures are treasures, it is gold, it is money. Nobody can take away that fun, that excitement.
To be able to cherish the goodies of life (small and big) are a treasure.
Love your writing!
How fun, what a wonderful thing to collect, it will never take up to much space in your home! And how interesting as well, I love learning about the history of such things.
And p.s., I always stoop to pick up pennies, too, they are good luck!
I like your story today Ginnie. Thinking about it I get a real kick every time I sell a book on Amazon. The fact that Ange and I have sorted through and found potential books to sell and been right that they might be worth a few pounds....then to actually sell one and to see where it is going is great. Then when we get feedback saying that people are really pleased with their book. Taking the proceeds to the Acorns shop or into our Lions funds is the icing on the cake. It is our pot of gold and Eureka moment.
Greetings to Lady P
What a great image, Ginnie, and such a wonderful post. That's exactly what I do. I do 'treasure hunting' with my camera all the time... It's such a great feeling when I find something; usually, something very simple and 'ordinary', but for me it's more than money can buy...
I'm always inspired by other people's finds, too. Your pictures are very inspiring too. I guess we are soul sisters, eh? :)
I like your passion of collecting things by photographs very much - and we can share your pleasures of collecting by looking at your fine photographs of them. Yes, the gevelstenen are especially interesting and so various and so meaningful. Just next to Wim's house in Zutphen a carver of gevelstenen lives and works, and I took also the gevelsteen above his door referring to the name of the street 'Armhage'. In A'dam I saw a gevelsteen that could visualize your motto 'Find money'. Yes, you are right: "It's better than money, although I like to pick up a coin, a lucky coin from the pavement , and my bag is full of coins, found by chance (only one or two pennies) . I have enjoyed reading your V&V- tribute today gathering different phases of life. (One day I'll post a picture of metal detectors I saw grabing at the Thames shore . I don't know if they were so 'finding'/fündig like you!
I so love this post, I too collect photographs. Treasure to me, is family, friends, life experiences and the journeys we experience along life's journey :-)
Oh Ginnie, I love your posts so much! Always full of heart/information presented in a playful way....really makes me want to visit the Netherlands. I'm reading a new book that actually takes place in Amsterdam.
There are so many different kinds of "pots of gold", aren't there?!?!
I'd never thought of the expression 'finding money' as being applicable to anything else. In fact, had never thought of the expression at all! Your kind of attitude, of reveling in the unexpected, the beautiful, the everyday and ordinary, is an exceptional quality. Just imagine if everybody had their senses and mind attuned so finely! I didn't know about gable stones, and once again am struck by the part of Dutch culture that is so into architecture and decoration. It's wonderfully interesting, and your nose for research brings us all into the loop. I have learned so much from your forays around the country, Ginnie.
I'm reminded of Annie Dillard's wonderful story from her childhood, of "hiding" pennies in plain sight, and then waiting for people to find them. Your new world has been salted with "pennies", and you're exactly the person to find them.
I didn't have a clue about gable stones, but you may have helped me solve a mystery. When I made my trip north last fall, I found a stone cottage in Oklahoma with a mysterious stone atop the door. I'm wondering now if the person who constructed it was aware of gable stones, and was using it in that way.
The buzz and the joy for a photographer - newbie or seasoned veteran - in finding an unexpected delight is as you so rightly point out Ginnie worth far more than money. It's the phenomena that gives life to us and our pictures. I have to add howeve,r that looking up for gable stones seems eminently better for other visual treats - and posture - than looking down for dropped pennies or cents.
...and a delightful gable stone too by the way.
The thrill of finding the treasure you are looking for :-)
I've never heard of gable stones before and the notion is quite fascinating. As too the idea of forming "collections" with your camera. I love taking pictures of door knobs and have lots of them but never quite imagined them as a collection - but of course they are! Thanks for the eye opener and the story!