Ethiopia has more than one similarity with Canada – did you know that their traditional game “genna” is really similar to field hockey?

Even better yet – they have a holiday named after their hockey game!  That’s almost more Canadian than Canada

Today is Christmas in Ethiopia – also known as “Genna.” It’s not a big holiday, but there are candle-lit church services, a set of new clothes for the children, a big feast of doro wat (chicken stew) and, of course, boys and men playing games of genna!

So “Melkam Genna” to you all, or as we say in Canada, “Merry Christmas!”

Silena decided that each of the four walls of the room would be a season.  Today she started working on winter – the badger and martin making a snowbear, with a family of bunnies looking on… you can see the autumn skunk playing hide and seek in the corner of the pics below.

Of course, she has a lot of help.  The four seasons were mostly Laughlin’s idea.

If you are interested in having murals done in your kid’s room, Silena will travel! to to locations near Calgary, the Okanagan, Vancouver and the Kootenays. Check out her website, mosscampion.ca , or contact her at silena-ann@shaw.ca .

So my sister Silena started on the murals for the kids’ room … the first task was all the drawing.

She drew the background freehand, but she already had the characters drawn and planned out – so I got to help my tracing her pre-drawn characters on the wall.

Click here for her original sketches.  Click here and click here to see some other kids room murals she has done.

If you are interested in having murals done in your kid’s room, Silena will travel! to to locations near Calgary, the Okanagan, Vancouver and the Kootenays. Check out her website, mosscampion.ca , or contact her at silena-ann@shaw.ca .

Jrock and I had a pretty quiet Christmas – just the two of us.

BUT, after Christmas the relations starting pouring in… first my parents visited for a couple of days.

Then my brother and his wife stopped over for a day on the way home from the Island. 

And now my sister is in town for a week, painting murals in the girls’ room.

Before you ask, YES, I will post pictures of the girls’ room as it progresses   But in the meanwhile, here are some choice favorite pictures and a video capturing the seasonal spirit.  Enjoy! 

And stay posted for mural pics!

Nicky