Saturday, February 02, 2008

The Heart of Timpanogos


I had heard of the Heart of Timpanogos long before I ever saw it. The legend of Timpanogos is a beautiful and romantic story that is told several ways, and I happen to love them all. The Timpanogos caves are just a few miles into American Fork Canyon and are a National Monument. The hike is 1.5 miles up (and obviously 1.5 miles back!) and extremely scenic. The heart of Timpanogos is a stalactite that hangs inside the caves and is backlit with a red light to look even more like a gigantic heart.
Arlo Shelley briefly tells the legend similarly to the way that I have heard it:

"As the story goes, a young Indian princess, Utahna, was to be sacrificed to the Great God of Timpanogos. After Utahna made her sacrificial leap from the top of Mount Timpanogos, the brokenhearted Indian warrior, Red Eagle, laid her to rest inside the cave. The two hearts melded into one and can now be seen hanging deep inside the cave as the Great Heart of Timpanogos, formed through several stalactites. Other accounts claim the great spirits hung Utahna’s heart within the cave and laid her body on top of the mountain as a warning. Looking closely at the skyline of majestic Mount Timpanogos, the outline of the sleeping princess can be seen." (See Source)

Other versions of the legend are available here and here.

Friday, February 01, 2008

City Daily Photo Blog Theme Day: What your city is known for


These four photos represent, to me, what American Fork is known for.

Top Left: This is a photo of our extremely talented and hardworking marching band. They performed in the Rose Bowl Parade a few years back and marched in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade last November. We are very proud of them. Go Cavemen!

Top Right: The LDS Mount Timpanogos Temple. Many people only know American Fork because they have seen photos of this beautiful and special building. There are many LDS people in American Fork and this building holds special significance to us.

Bottom Right: Fall colors on the Alpine Loop, American Fork Canyon. The Alpine Loop is famous for having some of the most brilliant fall colors in the country. (This is a particularly wonderful time to visit American Fork.)

Bottom Left: Mount Timpanogos. A beautiful mountain with a beautiful legend. I will share a version of it with you tomorrow. It is breathtaking in all four seasons.

All over the world, the City Daily Photo Bloggers are participating in this theme day. Follow these links to find out what their cities are known for:

Portland (OR), USA - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Memphis (Tennessee), USA - Manila, Philippines - San Diego (CA), USA - Anderson (SC), USA - New York City (NY), USA - San Diego (CA), USA - Mexico City, Mexico - San Francisco (CA), USA - Mumbai (Maharashtra), India - Mainz, Germany - Weston (FL), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Turin, Italy - Las Vegas (NV), USA - Hobart (Tasmania), Australia - Bicheno, Australia - Durban, South Africa - Joplin (MO), USA - Nashville (TN), USA - Stockholm, Sweden - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Brussels, Belgium - Chicago (IL), USA - Montpellier, France - Seattle (WA), USA - Mazatlan, Mexico - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Sharon (CT), USA - Sesimbra, Portugal - Toulouse, France - Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Susanville (CA), USA - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Prague, Czech Republic - Helsinki, Finland - Pilisvörösvár, Hungary - Lisbon, Portugal - Mexico (DF), Mexico - Trujillo, Peru - Dunedin (FL), USA - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - London, UK - Baziège, France - Jefferson City (MO), USA - Greenville (SC), USA - Selma (AL), USA - Mumbai, India - Naples (FL), USA - Norwich (Norfolk), UK - Silver Spring (MD), USA - Setúbal, Portugal - Stayton (OR), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Sofia, Bulgaria - Arradon, France - Montego Bay, Jamaica - Athens, Greece - Austin (TX), USA - Singapore, Singapore - West Sacramento (CA), USA - Jackson (MS), USA - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Budapest, Hungary - Rotterdam, Netherlands - St Malo, France - Chandler (AZ), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Port Vila, Vanuatu - Cleveland (OH), USA - Nottingham, UK - Kansas City (MO), USA - The Hague, Netherlands - Crystal Lake (IL), USA - Wrocław, Poland - Chateaubriant, France - Cheltenham, UK - Moscow, Russia - Monrovia (CA), USA - Saigon, Vietnam - Toruń, Poland - Grenoble, France - Lisbon, Portugal - New Orleans (LA), USA - Sydney, Australia - Boston (MA), USA - American Fork (UT), USA - Boston (MA), USA - Montréal (QC), Canada - Wichita (KS), USA - Radonvilliers, France - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Christchurch, New Zealand - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Wailea (HI), USA - Aliso Viejo (CA), USA - St Francis, South Africa - Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Seattle (WA), USA - Pasadena (CA), USA - Vienna, Austria - Orlando (FL), USA - Torun, Poland - Delta (CO), USA - Santa Fe (NM), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Haninge, Sweden - Paris, France - Stavanger, Norway - Niamey, Niger - Le Guilvinec, France - Bogor, Indonesia - Saarbrücken, Germany - Auckland, New Zealand - Wellington, New Zealand - Budapest, Hungary - Juneau (AK), USA - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - Glasgow, Scotland - Chicago (IL), USA - Jakarta, Indonesia - Adelaide (SA), Australia - Sydney, Australia - Riga, Latvia - Subang Jaya (Selangor), Malaysia

*I'm a little early this month because I don't know what tomorrow will bring!! :P

Hugs,

Annie

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Cafe Rio - American Fork



I love Cafe Rio and could eat there every week! This is the chicken salad with black beans and creamy tomatillo dressing. (and extra cilantro!) They are getting more locations all of the time, I hope they get one in your neck of the woods! If you don't have time to wait in line, you can call your order in ahead of time and it will be ready. We keep in on speed dial!

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Road Trip: Springville Museum of Art (4)

"The Three Gossips" by Provo artist Max Weaver.
This is the last of this series, but not the end of the amazing works of art that we photographed, it is just time to get back to my beautiful American Fork!

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Road Trip: Springville Museum of Art



Yesterday we had a nice little outing down to Springville, UT to see the art museum. LOVED IT! Also, took a drive up Diamond Fork Canyon and ate lunch at the Herb Shop on Msin Street in Springville. Delish! Had a turkey wrap and hubby had a portabella burger.

This statue is at the entrance to the museum.