Tied to the Post

Beautiful sunsets and sunrises light up the bluffs that overlook Bluff. courtesy photo

It's the light, and a lot more

In the 1960s Olympia Beer Company developed the successful marketing slogan, “It’s the water... and a lot more.” After 125 years of continuously making beer, however, the Tumwater Washington brewer discontinued production in January 2021. Falling demand and a flood of industry challenges put an end...

The history contained in a beautifully-weaved Navajo basket is fascinating, but interpreting the artwork, stories, and opinions can be challenging. Steve Simpson photo

An exceptionally deep mystery

One of the most common questions we hear at Twin Rocks Trading Post is, “So what do Navajo people think about that?” “That,” can encompass a wide variety of topics from art to culture to race relations to Bears Ears National Monument to local and national politics. There are, of course, a few...

An old-time traveler

This past Monday evening I was scrolling through YouTube, looking for information about the 2024 Paris Olympics. Growing up in rural Utah, I have always been fascinated by the City of Lights, and have many times attempted to find myself relaxing on its historic avenues at outdoor cafés, drinking...

Historic Horses of the Sun Navjo basket by Lorraine Black

Powered by horsepower

No matter where you travel on the vast Navajo Nation horses run wild. There are old ones, young ones, big ones, and small ones, but almost never are there fat, healthy-looking animals on the range. I have often wondered how they survive in this difficult environment, where there seems precious...

Gems for President

Jana, Pearl, Opal, and I frequently watch the news in the early mornings before we leave the house for work; Jana to train budding artists at Whitehorse High School, and Pearl, Opal, and I to entertain guests at Twin Rocks Trading Post. While there are some uplifting stories, much of the today’s...

Pearl and Opal are the darlings of Twin Rocks Trading Post in Bluff. Courtesy photo

The man with no name

The other day Priscilla had had enough. “Aaugh,” she muttered loudly, sounding a lot like Charlie Brown. I half expected her to follow up with, “Rats!” “Whaaaat?” I inquired from the safety of my office. It’s never a good idea to get sideways with Priscilla, so I remained seated and didn’t venture...

Spiraling through time

The first time I felt the tug of a spiral was in the late 1970s, when I was still in college. The object of my attention was the Spiral Jetty, a land art installation designed and built by American sculptor Robert Smithson. Completed almost 55 years ago, the Jetty, located on the northeastern shore...

Where's the toast?

A 2020 survey of Bluff residents found that, on average, we are over 68 years of age. Although there are only about 250 citizens in town, that still adds up to a lot of years. This finding has led to many wisecracks about memory, or the lack thereof, in our community. I would relate a few of the...

Both Sides Now

It was a winter afternoon, and the sun was beginning to fade. Late February light in Bluff is stunning, so I was sitting in my office staring absently out the picture windows when I heard a car come to a sudden halt in the gravel parking lot. The driver apparently overshot his or her intended mark...

The cityscapes of New York, London, and Paris are woven into the exquisite basketry of local artist Chris Johnson. Courtesy photo

Cityscapes in a traditional basket

Over the 35 years Twin Rocks Trading Post has been working with the Monument Valley Navajo basket makers, Chris Johnson has emerged as one of the best. Chris is a full-time shepherd, so during any given year he will produce only a few baskets. When he arrives at the trading post, however, you can...