Week of February 1st

Another busy week ending with Super Bowl Sunday, so an Arizona celebration was destined to be trumped. Arizona is such a wonderful state and it shouldn’t be slighted therefore I will try to do it justice in other ways.

Because my husband has family in Arizona, we have traveled there several times. I love the beautiful desert landscapes, accented by the painted sunsets. The majesty of the Grand Canyon is awe inspiring and not just a little intimidating. The red rocks around Sedona are breath-taking and so is the craftsmanship of its local artists. There’s not much I don’t like about this state except the fact that they took our football team in ’88 (whoever heard of a cardinal in Arizona?) and our star quarterback in ’05 and you can keep their weather in summer.

Another thing that truly fascinates me is the Native American culture there, with its wonderful imagery and beautiful jewelry. I love the Kachina likenesses which do everything from bring rain, give protection and ensure fertility. The Kokopelli is also a fertility deity represented in much of Native American craft.

Talk about the beautiful desert landscapes, the fascinating cacti, the majestic Grand Canyon, the red rocks of Sedona or Arizona’s magnificent forest of Ponderosa pines, but I want to talk about the jewelry.

In the mid 1800’s silversmithing was introduced to the Navajo and they have been masters ever since. And then combine that with the beautiful turquoise mined in Arizona and you have one brilliant product.

Although no longer a leader in turquoise mining, Arizona currently produces the highest valued turquoise, Sleeping Beauty turquoise.

So take a guess how I celebrated Arizona. You guessed it; I purchased a wonderful piece of Native American jewelry. I wish it was the piece I illustrated on the map but you can’t have it all.

Just to keep it real, we did have Southwest food for our little Super Bowl gathering and before the evening was over a toast was made to the great state of Arizona.

Color in the “Copper State” with turquoise, coral and jet, go north from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon and take a right turn across the nation to the “Volunteer State” - Tennessee. 15 down - 37 to go.