The Wright Family welcomes the Lopez Family!

My most favorite picture of my boys! 

Christopher, Matthew. and Seth 5-5-13

Invitation

We were invited to go over to Kebebush, our cook's, home for Christmas dinner:

This is the formal wear (white) for the Christmas holiday.
Kebebush's sister and husband

Because the Ethiopian food is spicy hot - she made us Lasagna
in case we couldn't eat it. 

She made this bread - very soft and good.

A fermented fig juice - called Ethiopian Beer (non-alcoholic)  

Ethiopian sour dough bread - you tear a piece and pick up the meat and sauce (very spicy)
and eat it with your hands

They have a coffee ceremony here - it is very important to them.
They roast their own coffee and brew it right there (we didn't try this of course).

Our 2 minute LIVE goat!

Because of the upcoming Easter holiday, our cook warned us that there would not be any sheep available for two months and the best thing to do is to buy a whole sheep right now. I was like "Seriously?" So, we did and I was a mess - poor little guy! We will probably NOT do this again. But I have to say that we had sheep for dinner the next day and the it was AMAZING! Talk about fresh! I was so worried about Seth with this (of course we didn't watch), but it was ME who had the worse time!

Merry Christmas - Embassy Style..

Santa and Seth :) at the Embassy 

Seth asked Santa for "Legos"

Brunch with Santa

The family

Dad and Seth standing in line for face painting

Seth wanted a Christmas Tree - but we got a tree
(she had no clue what we were asking for)

Our Christmas Tree!!

Horse Rides!

Today we supported this horse farm - they were putting a few older horses out to pasture and were raising money to do so

They give riding lessons at very reasonable prices - as soon as we get our car (probably in January) we are going to sign Seth up!

This horse has the Ethiopian formal colors on

Our Field Trip to Sabahar - the Silk Worm Farm!

Sabahar Field Trip - This was truly beautiful!

Kathy was our gracious hostess

Silk Worm - It creeped Seth out he wouldn't touch it - I did though! They eat the caster leaves (caster oil)

They put the worms (when ready) in these cubical trays to cocoon 

They come out in about six weeks as moths - they do not fly or eat much - they mate and lay their eggs in this tray

These are the baby worms that just hatched - they eat the smaller softer caster leaves

The silk behind the lady is what it looks like after they boil the pods and then they spin it 

This silk farm gives many women and men jobs.
There are many women that work from home or hospitals also

Silk thread

They die the silk different colors - Red from Beetles, yellow comes from an Ethiopian flower, The khaki color comes from red onion peals 

These are skins from the silk worm left over from the cocoon - there is a man in Ethiopia that makes jewelry from these!

Silk drying in the sun

Then they weave it into tablecloths, scarfs etc. It is the men that weave!

Drying the dyed silk

This is where the last things are done - like the fringe etc. they iron and fold. They have many orders from big companies in New york

This is her store where we shopped for silk products - I bought a silk scarf for 480 birr (about  $29.00)

They also weave cotton - these are tablecloths - you can buy matching napkins

After the tour she was so sweet and pulled Seth aside and gave him four of his own silk worms!

I can happily say they have all cocooned!