Strikk, Stryk and Hekle

I Dream of Mastering Two Languages

 Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

If the dog once knew some of the tricks, when she was a puppy, would that help?

Either way, I've got a long road ahead of me. :-)

The NVO has taken it upon himself to learn Norwegian. It's incredibly endearing. We have purchased every language learning tool we could find in Norway, in the USA and online. He studies for hours each evening. He is getting so good. I did not think I had to study as it was my native language (does until the age of 2 1/2 count as ones native language?) Boy, was I ever wrong!

Some Norwegian words I get mixed up:

Strikk (Knit)...............................Stryk (Iron)

One was fun, one was not, until today.

It was brought to my attention via comments from my previous post:
God Bedring Erna that I used the wrong word.
(No worries, it's been corrected now.)

Stryking: Ironing

I meant to use

Strikking: Kniting

These two words sounded so much alike to me; however, with the help of my Artic Strawberries blogging friend and the NVO I have learned the difference in the spelling and pronunciation of the two words.

Stryk:

The "y" is pronounced as "ee" with a lower tone with the lips pursed forward and it is said slowly.

Strikk:

The "i" is pronounced as a long English "e"  but with a smile and is said quickly due to the double consonant.
(Of course one would smile when talking about knitting.)

Can YOU hear any difference?

I told the NVO while we were courting that Norwegian was an easy language to learn. Perhaps I thought it would entice him to marry me....hmmmm...the thought of learning such an exotic language from the country of his sweetie's birth.....what's more enticing than that? If I was not truthful, it was not intentional.

There are so many other "Norsk"words that entertain us and are similar like these. As I write this post the NVO writes a post about another funny Norwegian language story. Click here for his story; he's such an excellent writer. :-)

Well one thing led to another preparing for and taking photos for this post today and I found myself actually having fun with the stryking (ironing) whilst reminiscing about another collaboration between the strikker (my mother) and the hekler (me).

Here are some photos of how one inspiring thought led to another inspiring action today:

Before....................After
'En strøket pyjamas'

Fire Strøket Putevar

(I don't remember the last time I ironed pj's and pillowcases).

Maybe this blog is good for me. :-)

Then there are the clothes...I do remember the last time I ironed THOSE....every week, but today it was fun.
Repeat...maybe this blog is good for me.
(Did you read that NVO?)

A collaboration of the hekler and strikker from years ago:

Once again, the strikkt (knit) squares were mor's creation and the heklet (crocheted) squares were mine.

The collaboration rests on a chair in the corner of the "Elske Reir" along with a pillow with lace that my grandmother had crocheted many, many years ago.
(A tres generaticiones photo opportunity - Hey, there's a third langauge here. :-0 )

All this has worn me out and I am ready to hit the hay and wrinkle up those pj's and pillowcases and get some well needed rest.

Tusen takk (a thousand thanks) not to be confused with Tusen tak (a thousand ceilings) Artic Strawberries, for the inspiration.