At Casale Cjanor therefore you can relish exquisite cold cuts, for appetizers or delicious snacks: local salami and cheese, lard and seasoned goose breast, vegetables in oil and in vinegar. In the kitchen the genuine ingredients produced in the farm form a menu that follows the rhythm of the seasons and returns to the old flavours of tradition: dishes based on pork, duck or mallard, braised donkey or the tasty vegetable soups of rural tradition, flavoured with home-made pestât, the lard finely minced with wild herbs that is one of the Slow Food presidia.

Queen of the table at the farmhouse is the goose, that you can relish from St. Martin's Day all through the winter. And for a sweet conclusion, the home-made desserts or the delicious Clinton wine sorbet.

The guests will have at their disposal a wide and independent attic with library, while all the rooms are oak-beamed and furnished with restored antique furniture. And to make relaxation complete, the baths are provided with showers or bathtub with hydromassage. The living room gives the opportunity to enjoy the simple and rural atmosphere of the farmhouse and the precious silence of the countryside. And it can be the chance for some excursions.

Nature fans must not miss a visit to the Quadris nature reserve, in Fagagna, a centre for the repopulation of the white stork: the reserve already houses a large group of permanent specimens and aims at including the area among the destinations and stopovers of the migration of these birds.

Tradition lovers can visit the museum of rural life of Cjase Cocel, an ecomuseum founded to preserve and set off the memory of the place and of its people and housed in a rural residence of the 17th century. The rooms of the house of old times, the objects and the tools that are kept there tell the visitor about the daily life and the work of the countrymen from the end of the 19th century until the 1950s.
C. Ipiotis Italy

So naturally, when one wants enrichment, a handmade gem just may be the crowning jewel.

In fact, with yearly graduations, birthdays, an anniversary, a retirement celebration, recognition awards, holidays, etc., there’s usually a desire to purchase a priceless heirloom for a family member, a special friend, and the like.

Accordingly, if you’re looking for something visually stunning and off-the-wall affordable, drop by Beverly Blacksheep’s Originals….. Navajoland’s newest treasure of premier Navajo beauty.

Blacksheep is a multi-talented award-winning Navajo artist who recently opened a gift shop of relaxed Navajo ambiance here in the Navajo Nation capital. Blacksheep Originals is where artistry and functionality combine to produce a fascinating interpretation of Navajo culture.

“Everyone keeps asking me where they can find me,” she said. The prestigious artist who has a penchant for impeccable style is constantly on the road selling her artwork, which has made it difficult to contact her. Now that she has a new outlet, she hopes people will be able to find her.

After painting large illustrations for more than 25 years, Blacksheep has downsized and diversified to cater to a new market. Although she enjoys entering her diverse media in various art shows, Blacksheep said everyone cannot afford large pieces, which is why she has designed new and smaller couture creations that burst with fiery reds, brilliant oranges, and other hints of rainbow colors.

Her remarkable palette of earth tone colors is beautifully transformed onto mugs, coasters, napkin holders, business card holders, handbags, gift baskets, plates, decorative tiles, and computer mouse pads, to name but a few.

She said her spark of inspiration began in childhood while she herded sheep in Salina Springs, Arizona, noting, “I use to draw on rocks while I herded sheep. I always liked working with my hands. In fact, I come from an artistic family. My mother and grandmother were rug weavers and my father designed leather crafts.” Blacksheep said she is primarily a self-taught artist, however, she did study interior design at Northern Arizona University for 3 ½ years then eventually became interested in studio art. She eventually developed a style of her own, which is punctuated by a blend of traditional and contemporary brush of sheer elegance.

Much to her surprise, in 1994, she became the poster artist for the Gallup Ceremonial where she illustrated a painting called Moonlight Harmony. It was a depiction of several Navajo men singing at a Enemy Way Ceremony.

Although her prize-winning piece was a portrayal of Navajo men, she said many of her paintings are about Navajo women, noting, “Navajos have a special relationship with their mother.” She has been delighting Navajos and visitors alike, but she said the Navajo people have been her largest customer base. In fact, her most popular pieces are mugs depicted with magnetic images of a Navajo basket and another mug that showcases the integrity and beauty of a Navajo woman adorned with colorful traditional Navajo attire and jewelry. The distinctive appearance of her pieces reveal a deep sacredness with her traditional Navajo upbringing.

In addition to her presence in the art world, Blacksheep is also an illustrator of several children’s books. Some of her books include”Baby’s First Laugh,” “Baby Learns about Colors,” and others.

She said her artistic style embodies a universal beauty of the Navajo people, animals, and scenery. Speaking of animals, her artwork is also distinguished by a bounty of lambs, which is prevalent in much of her work. Her mixture of elements speaks volumes about the aesthetic values of the Navajo people.

Blacksheep said artists must constantly refine and experiment with new art forms to fully explore their true potential.

In fact, she is in the process of intricately creating new images of a Navajo woman making fry bread, kneel down bread, and other paintings that symbolize the importance and elegance of Navajo women in Navajo culture. She said her images of Navajo women are a tribute to mothers and grandmothers who reflect the cornerstone of her work.

Moreover, she will soon be designing plaque awards marked with her signature breath of expression. On the horizon, she envisions entering the world of clothing and furniture.

Although it is sometimes overwhelming, she said, “It is a lot of hard work, but you have to have a passion for what you’re doing. In the end, it is very rewarding to be your own boss. I love what I do.”

Blacksheep said she hopes people see the vibrancy and beauty of the Navajo people through her highly refined pieces, which captures the enduring spirit of a forgotten time.

So when one conjures up an image of her brilliant paintings, one senses a surrealistic silhouette of the ancient past with contemporary strokes of harmonic choreography.

Blacksheep Originals….creations that are imbued with a distinctive cultural flavor that honors the timeless tradition of the Navajo people.

It is one of Navajoland’s newest destinations, and a definite must-see and buy here in the capital of the Navajo Nation. Blacksheep will have a grand opening on November 20th, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Her shop is located just off the beaten path and nestled within the Navajo Nation Shopping Center plaza in Window Rock.

For more information, Blacksheep can be reached at (928) 871-4998 or at her new website at:
blacksheeporiginals.art.officelive.com or at her email address at: blacksheeporiginals@yahoo.com
By Roberta John

They didn’t have a clue, that is, that they would one day share a life as researchers, writers, builders, and owner/operators of a bed and breakfast home.

Long story short, Karen is an Anglo originally from Haslett, Michigan and Timothy is a Navajo from Red Valley, Arizona……they’ve been married for more than 20 years.

The Benallys recently opened an intricately designed Navajo/Anglo brush of beauty called Sage Hill Bed and Breakfast, which is nestled here among stunning coral-colored sandstone formations against the backdrop of the majestic Chuska Mountains.

But, before one can appreciate the unique ambiance of Navajo/Anglo luxury here at Sage Hill B&B, let’s thread back into time.

As a child, Karen said she had never heard of Navajos. She was only familiar with a stereotypical image and thought all Native Americans looked like Plains Indians.

When she first entered the reservation, she said, “It was like going to a foreign country.” It wasn’t long, however, before Karen took a liking to Timothy’s grandmother, the Navajo people, the cultural landscape (so different from where she’d grown up), and Timothy.

In 1989, they got married in Walla Walla, Washington where she taught anthropology at a local college. After encouragement from family members and friends, in 1993 they had a traditional Navajo wedding in Red Valley, where Timothy grew up. The celebration included more than 300 people from the surrounding Navajo communities.

They began weaving their lives together in a 12 X 20 feet two-room home without running water or electricity. By this time Timothy was Director of the Office of Navajo Uranium Workers and Karen was working for the Navajo Nation Historic Preservation Department. It seemed like only yesterday as they reminisced about the times they hauled water for drinking and read books using kerosene lamps. In 1993, they finally received running water and electricity.

“It was a lot of fun in the early years,” Karen said. “She made our first Thanksgiving turkey on an outdoor grill and cooked my birthday cake that year in a reflector oven in our wood stove,” Timothy added.

Sage Hill B&B offers an array of down-to-earth amenities surrounded by the magnetic allure of natural surroundings. Guests are tantalized by silver-green sage and pinon trees silhouetted against the rolling hills, breathtaking sunsets, and crisp clean air, and are nurtured by Mother Nature.

One of the most appealing qualities of their B&B may be the bookshelves filled with thousands of books they’ve read over the years. Virtually every room is filled with an exceptional collection of books …..from their Navajo and Native American collections to their Southwest collection, anthropology collection, mystery collection, travel collection, children’s books, books on gardening ….. the list goes on and on. Interestingly, a towering bookshelf was one the very first things they built.

Karen said she enjoys the privacy and open space living on the Navajo Nation, but hungers for other company every now and then. Hence, they now have a B&B…..it’s a vision that they’ve shared for more than five years, and is now a reality. “We want people to stay awhile,” said Karen. “We love having people here, and will be more than happy to show our guests around.”

The colorful landscape of Red Valley translates into a picture perfect retreat that will surely rejuvenate your mind, spirit and body…..and a warm welcome is only the beginning. So why don’t you recapture your sense of wonder and indulge in the embodiment of this Navajo and Anglo interpretation of timeless allure.

Sheer relaxation and a brush of cultural beauty is what you’ll find here at Sage Hill B&B. You’ll experience a sense of peace and tranquility. This is where Navajo tradition meets modern luxury; it is a hidden haven of solace just off the beaten path. Sage B&B is a new collection of treasured memories that awaits you.

For more information about Sage Hill Bed and Breakfast, visit their website at http://www.freewebs.com/sagehill-bb or contact them via email at sagehill_bb@hughes.net.
By Roberta John