't Mastbos 2

Tomorrow 't Mastbos 3 ... ? Not so sure there'll be time. Need to go to work and I just hope the sun doesn't set too hurriedly.

Original spelling - Mastbosch, but that was 'too florid' so they took off the 'ch', which was NEVER pronounced anyway (or maybe it was but that was about 1000 years ago ... seriously!). It is actually a forest of pine trees, or, rather, it had started out with purely pine trees, but, in the course of time, beech, oak and birch trees sprouted and grew and thrived as well, in part thanks to the squirrels and birds and other wondrous creatures who dwell there. The English word 'mast' (you know, the one associated with ships) comes from the Dutch (rather, Germanic) word and, to make a long story short, now you know what kind of wood was used for the masts of ships. This is because, as you know, pine trees grow, for the most part, straight and tall and are quite sturdy.

Closer to home, some of hubby's ancestors lived not too far away from this area and cut down some of the pine to make wheels and carts, which is where hubby's family name comes from. We're talking late 15th to early 16th century here, long before the Eighty Years War. An interesting period, by the way ... and such 'florid' handwriting! Had to take a special course just to be able to decipher it!

Tonight, will drive north and see if I can sell one of my older paintings to generate some money for The Phil. Nope, it's not worth much, so I will probaby need to inject a supplement.