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