Swap-errific...Fall and Friendship!

One more day!
September is almost here!  Yippee!  Break out the tubs of Autumn and Halloween goodies.  Tomorrow I will be going to Swiss Days...the kick-off to my holiday crafting and celebrating. Today I wish to share with you a couple of the swaps I participated in.  The lovely fall banner on the left is from Deb the Garage Sale Gal.  We completed our trade early, so we agreed we could post each other's fall garlands.  The swap was for a garland spelling F.A.L.L and any fall-themed goodies we wished to include.  The items Deb sent reflected my love of owls, acorns, and...Circus Peanuts!  It's embarrassing how much I love them...they are my childhood in sugar! =D

I was spoiled!

I don't know how Deb got all this into a 12" postal box! 

As I unpacked it, I kept saying "oh, my!" over and over.

Everything was wrapped so festively...

where did she find leaf-shaped doilies?

 

For love of owls! 

The most beautiful owl tag!

Dear little owls have joined my other autumn birds on their special shelf!

An owl brooch adorned with glittery stones!

 

I didn't show you everything...the crafting supplies, real Minnesota candy...

 and other fun items...

But look how nice my kitchen door looks!

I am ready for fall!

 

Friendship Garland...

I finally received enough pennants to hang my Friendship Garland!

I cannot express how much I love them...they are so wonderful!

Wish the light was better.

 

Each pennant represents the blog of its designer...

(L to R) Sandy of 521 Lake Street, Tammy of Tammy's In Love,

and Lynn of Life on the Weinee Ranch.

I can sit in my office and admire them everyday!

(L to R) Chris of Perfectly Printed, Elizabeth of Creative Breathing,

and Meri of ImagiMeri's Creations. 

Each crafter has a unique style...isn't that a wonderful thing?

 

Thank you so much, my sweet friends for including me in your swaps and in your lives!

You constantly amaze me!

 

 

 

 

 

 



Home Town Tags...and more Halloween!

Be True to Your School...
I finally finished my tags for Tammy's Home Town Tag Swap.  Go here: Tammy's In Love to read how Tammy's home town is proud to be the home of  Hormel...makers of Spam!  This was a lot of fun...just what makes a home town special?  I wrote about mine about a week ago...How American Fork became Cavemen.  My own children didn't even know the connection!

Welcome to Timpanogos Cave!

While Fred Flintstone is NOT the mascot of Timpanogos Cave...we used him a lot for Homecoming posters and other high school activities.  Pebbles Flintstone was the emblem for the girls Letter sweaters.  I earned my letter in Drama...but sadly...could not afford the sweater.  I sent my tags on their way.  Thanks Tammy, for another fun and creative swap!  I just realized I forgot to put my name on my tags...yikes!  I was so eager to get them in the mail.

 

My Haunted Mansion!

Creepy!

I have been making paper mache houses for all the major holidays.  I did this one differently...using a torn "old newspaper" paper to decoupage the front and sides.  I used my Cricket to cut out window and door frames.

Detail of Front...

I decided to use the windows to frame a whole gallery of creepy Halloween photos I found on Pinterest.  The girl on the bottom has buttons for eyes like Coraline.

 

Back of House....

 

"Beware of Hitchhiking Ghosts!"

Back of House Detail...

I love this new photo commissioned by Disney...so I added it to the back of my "Haunted Mansion."  These are the "Hitchhiking Ghosts" portrayed by Jack Black, Will Ferrell and Jason Segal.  I love how transparent they are with the Haunted Mansion in the background.  They were the perfect spooky addition to my house!  I could have really gone to town with the decor...but sometimes I think less is more.  Unless it's vintage Christmas...then more is more!

 

Have a great day, my friends,

Don't let the crafty bug bite...too hard!

 



 



I Heart Mushrooms!



Lucky Mushrooms...
Before I start...I just realized that today is my first Blogging Anniversary.  I started Zetta's Aprons very simply...with one paragraph...one year ago today.  Doesn't time simply fly by?  Thank you all my friends and followers for helping me to grow this past year.  You're the best!

I've been in love with red and white mushrooms ever since we moved to Germany.  I learned they were a symbol of good luck...and who could resist the polkadots?  Over the years I have collected a small number of mushroom themed figurines and bric-a-brac and have them displayed for the summer on the recessed shelving in a wall adjacent to my kitchen.  I've tried several times to take a few pictures of them, but the mirror makes it too difficult.  I got a chance recently to take some photos when I took them down and replaced them with autumn birds, squirrels, and acorns.

Elves and Mushrooms....

Valentine Elf...

I made him to go with the Hobbit Garden I posted last month.

A couple of German smokers.

Two small mushrooms are candleholders.

All are German. .

I love little pixie elves...the right one bobbles, balanced on the stem.

These are knitted...believe it or not! 

A gift from my DIL Shandi...a very talented girl.

German Salt and Pepper Shakers.

Fun felt mushrooms I found last Christmas.

The thimble flower is from Magpie Ethel.

Adorable Red and Yellow S&P.

The red dwarf stands on a napkin holder.

Tiny Bunny Box and Yellow S&Ps.

Cute Leprechaun...the mushrooms came from Target $1 bins.

Polka Dot Elves...need I say more?

Little Bisque Elf...colors are muted, but still fun!

Viv's Mushrooms...Pinterest!

Pinned to my "I Heart Mushrooms" Board.

Viv from Viv Out on a Whim created this adorable display.

I am so lucky...

This has been only a part of my growing collection.

I have a lot of mushroom decorations for Christmas...don't want to tackle those boxes just yet!

Thank you again, my dear friends, for a wonderful first year of blogging.

How American Fork became Cavemen!

The Mighty, Mighty Cavemen!
"Dear old A.F. High,
We will love you 'til we die.
Your banners bright,
Of red and white,
Will be a beacon thru' the night..." 
American Fork High School Song

I've been thinking about my hometown lately...probably because of the Hometown Tag Swap sponsored by Tammy of Tammy's in Love.

Me shaking my Cavette Pep Club pompoms...

probably why the picture is so blurry!

As in many small towns across the country,  a lot of our civic identity can be tied up in the local high school mascot and logo. The logo above is the current one for American Fork High School.  We are the Cavemen!  We have always been very proud of being Cavemen...looking down our noses at the lowly Lehi Pioneers or the Pleasant Grove Vikings.  I have always been big on school spirit.  Like the Beach Boys sang, "Be True to Your School." That song used to make me cry.   You may be wondering...how did American Fork become Cavemen?  Well...I'll tell you. 

Timpanogos Cave...

Located just ten minutes from my current home in Highland, Timpanogos Cave is a major tourist attraction.  American Fork Canyon is one of my favorite places on earth...it is so beautiful and filled with history...stories of pioneers, miners and Indians.  The discovery of the cave has always been a story that fascinated me. 

Martin Hansen

The following information is from the Timpanogos Cave website:  Martin Hansen was born in Denmark.  He settled in American Fork in 1861 after coming to Utah with the Mormon pioneers.  He was a teamster and logger in American Fork Canyon, and as the demand for lumber and firewood increased, Hansen had to hike higher up the steep slopes to reach ideal timber.  According to family records, Hansen ended his working day in October 1887 high along the canyon wall, setting his ax down against a tree and heading home.  The next day, he returned to collect his ax and noticed mountain lion tracks in the freshly fallen snow.  Taking his ax, he followed the tracks to the entrance of a cave, exploring only as far as daylight allowed.

He returned to explore the cave, now known as Hansen Cave...there are three caves in the system...several times along with his children and others.  With assistance from family and friends, Hansen built a rudimentary trail nearly straight up the cliff with log "tree ladders" and placed a door over the cave entrance.   

Some visitors to Hanson Cave...

Tours no longer visit this cave...it was stripped of its decorations

by an unscrupulous mining company...destoying its beauty forever.

Hansen gave tours of the cave for a small fee from 1888 to 1891, ceasing when tours became unprofitable.  He and his wife Mary had nine children, and following in the family tradition, son George Heber Hansen and grandson Wayne Hansen discovered Middle Cave together in the Timpanogos Cave System.  To read more of the history go to this NPS site, Timpanogos Cave.

Old Postcards...

30 tiny postcards...about 2" by 3"

I found this packet of postcards in a box of Yellowstone souvenirs...I don't even remember when I bought it.  The postcards are from the 1920s, but the picture of American Fork looks older than that.

The mountain in the background is Timpanogos.

The caves aren't even in that mountain.

The valley in the distance is Highland.

The caves are high on the canyon wall.

The famous Heart of Timpanogos.

Many legends have been created around this 4000 lb. speleothem.

Some of the lovely lacy decorations.

The straw-like formations are called helictites...hollow stone tubes.

The caves are always 46 degrees with 100% humidity.

Civic Pride...

'We claim this cave in the name of all American Fork Citizens!'

(Highland is actually much closer to the caves than A.F.)

Timpanogos Caves Today...

The visitor's center is only a mile or two from the mouth of the canyon.

Vintage picture of visitor's center

The trail is 1.5 miles in length with a 1092 ft. gain in elevation.

The path is paved with lots of resting places along the way.

I love the little tunnels on the trail!

Almost to the top...

The restroom is a welcome sight! 

Your Ranger is waiting to guide you through the caves.

This is my junior high school principal, Arlo Shelley, leading a tour.

I found this pic by happy coincidence online...lol!

And that...boys and girls...was how American Forker's became Cavemen!

I'd remind you to tip your guide...but I'm pretty sure the Park Service frowns upon it.

Please add this to your Vintage Vacation Itinerary!