Fife and Wife

Howdy guys...Have you ever wondered what it's like to have 4 horses, 18 chickens, 1 duck, 5 goats, 2 dogs, 9 puppies, 1 cat, and let's not forget 9 goldfish?

Well if not, let me introduce you to the Fife Family. Paige, my dear cousin, married Tony Fife back in 2011.

I spent part of the evening with Paige at the land where they keep their horses. And chickens. And duck.

I watched as Paige rode and worked with her horse while waiting for people interested in a horse she had trained.

In the meantime Paige refreshed my memory of how Tony and her met...

It all started in March of 2011. Paige was invited to go on a ski trip with her/my cousin Austin along with a few of his friends. At first she was iffy about it, then our Uncle Dave took matters into his own hands and called Paige's boss and said that Paige needed some time off to go on this ski trip. (Her boss just happened to be one of the coolest people ever, Sarah Lay.)

Paige went into the ski trip expecting nothing grand, grand in terms of love I mean. This is where Tony skied into the picture.

I watched Paige as she sat atop her horse and relayed her love story to me. The edges of her mouth turned up into a cute smile as the story unfolded.

Her sweet giggle filled the small area of her voice echoing with the tales of Tony and her flirting on the ski trip. Smiling she said, "I flirted with both Tony and another guy on the trip, obviously I was into Tony though." 

Their first kiss was nothing short of sweet. Tony asked Paige to play a game, which Paige went along with. Tony explained to her that you would close your eyes and see who could get the one with the eyes closed to laugh. Tony closed his eyes as Paige went first, she tickled him and made him laugh. Paige closed her eyes next. 

Paige looked at me and laughd, "All of a sudden he was kissing me! It took me a minute to realize what was going on, but then I kissed him back." 

In August the two were married.

They both have a love for common interests that they both share. Horses, dogs, outdoors, and adventures! For the first couple months of being married they lived in a trailer up at Beaver Mountain. The next summer they lived in a tent down on the property where they keep their horses. That is quite certainly an adventure they will be telling their grandkids in years to come. 

A tent though!!

It just so happens that Paige and Tony are expecting a little one...on the way and arriving in November. Paige is stil riding horses with a cute little pregger bump, like a pro. 

The passion these two have for their animals is something else. I listened to Paige for over an hour talk to two people about horses and let me tell you, this girl is a horse whisper. 

When it was time for us to finish up on the horse property, Paige fed the horses and I was in charge of wrangling up the chickens. I clearly was in the wrong shoes. Chasing chickens in a dusty area while it's hot outside makes for dirty legs and feet...

  Oh hell. I hate chickens but I was ready for the challenge to gather up 18 chickens. By the way you make this kind of clucking noise to herd them in, or maybe Paige just told me that so I was running around and chasing the chickens while looking like a fool clucking at them?

  Also there is one duck, who thinks he is a chicken as well.

 In return I got to take home some fresh farm eggs. The colors are so pretty. I think I need some chickens now...

I found the motherload!

Alas, it was time to head back to Paige and Tony's homestead in Smithfield

They're standard poodle, Fawn, gave birth to 9 puppies this morning! Yes I said 9!

The proud father, Baloo. All 90 lbs of happiness and tons of fluffy butt tuffs. If you are interested in these puppies they are called a "Bernadoodle"

The raspberry bushes in the backyard are plentiful, I ate handfull after handfull

"But mom...I want a raspberry too!"

As if taking care of all those animals wasn't enough, Tony is working on an awesome car that will soon one day be the family shaggin' wagon!

Rows of corn

Here is baby horse Penelope

And can we just talk about how friendly goats are?! With one exception of a goat named Dewey from my childhood. (He still gives me nightmares)

Paige may be our horse whisper, but Jaron can sure get the two cows here attention!

Baby Penelope rubbing little baby Fife. This child will be born running around the house in nothing but cowboy boots and a popsicle grin

If I ever had a cow, I'd name her Miss Sally

Every morning the Fife's are up and ready to go to take on the day, starting with milking the goat!

They showed me the process of milking their goats. Tony is going into education and planning on being a high school agriculture teacher. I have no doubt he will do great seeing as he already lives some of the things if not most of what he will be teaching one day! 

The first time they told me to take a sip of goats milk from the jar, I was so nervous. But let's justify that goats milk is actually quite delicious, just like normal cows milk.

Paige swears by the nutrients in goats milk like the dad in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" swears by Windex's healing powers.

And finally meet their cat Si. What would a farm life be without a funny little kitty cat. He's totally ready to pounce on my camera.

If you were ever thinking about wanting this kind of life of raising animals, then the Fife's are your people to go to. Their passion for what they do and enjoy reminds me and all of us that it's important to do what you love and love what you do. 

They work hard and play hard which is something to remind ourselves on a daily basis. 

It's a good thing to get outdoors and see how other people live and work. To understand what is around you, you must listen, watch, and try hence this lifestyle blog entry.

If you want to see how not to wrangle chickens in their coop, don't listen, watch or try the method I attempted. The dang things will huddle under a tree and watch you foolishly cluck and clap your hands at them while thinking what a crazy "city girl".

Summer Runnings

And the summer adventures continue! Earlier this week my friend Missy and I, decided to go on a little adventure to Lake Bloomington. This place is quite magical, indeed. 

The water? Freezing.

There is a rope swing hanging from a tree that captivates your wild side of the soul...It urges you to hold tight and free fall into the Titanic ice-like water. (moment of silence for Jack)

It started out rather cloudy and unpleasantly cold... And then the nature fairies granted us the wish to have some warmth for after we came gurgling out of the ice water to liven up

The rope swing...

Pause here for a moment: I'm going to let you in on a little idea I have. Trust me, this idea would make the world a better place. Ready? 

The idea is called "Cabin in A Can" 

This "Cabin in A Can" would be small and compact to carry in a backpack so that you could hike to any destination and then, drumroll please, you open the can and to your surprise a mini cabin pops out! 

It somehow would have a working sewer system, running water, food, furniture, you know the works. And for an extra cost you can have an additional hot, bearded, burley, mountain man wearing a plaid shirt cooking you breakfast. Someone get on that quick and make it happen.

"I'm a simple woman, I like handsome bearded brunette men and breakfast food."

If "Cabin in A Can" ever gets off the ground you will find me and my cabin up here in Bloomington

That tiny second when your heart completely stops from how cold the water is...

you come out of the water screaming, just like when you were born into the world. 

It's actually probably as exhilirating as the day you were born, definitely kinda.

Also on my two year/summer bucket list was to run Ragnar. I somewhat trained.

It was killer folks. 

I ran a total of 19 miles. WHAT. STAHHHP. These were just a few of the words, appropriate words for the blog, running through my mind as I ran my 2:00 am run of 11.6 miles and who could forget the Ragnar hill? Oh heavens, I was dying and most likely could have drowned in my own sweat.

Total sleep in 24 hrs or more: 2.5

But I survived. We all survived and I felt very accomplished and proud of myself for doing it. 

On a side note about Summer 2014, my mom got Snapchat, and it's the greatest thing in the world.

My favorite picture from Ragnar...I put this on my instagram. See the KT tape on my knee, which it saved my life by the way, the KT tape founder commented on my picture! So that's cool. 

Summer is continuing on and the bucket list continues to get checked off! Next week is my 21st birthday, say whattt? Living life to the fullest and hope you all are as well!

Alright kiddos, its been awhile. If you haven't noticed already, summer is quickly disappearing (tears falling).

I have made a "Bucket List" of goals and things I want to accomplish over the course of my next 2 years of life. Amongst those range from small to big like graduate college or a small simple act such as make someone smile everyday.

Since it is summer though...I'm catching you up on my summer adventures/goals! I have been catching a lot of flack from my sweet Grammy of mine that she is not going to live long enough to ever see me married or have kids...smh. Utah standard. I told her it gives her an excuse to keep that heart of hers pumping even longer. Everybody needs a grandma...or two and a few!

My main thing this summer was to stay busy and not get bored and have plenty of adventures. Between taking a 2 hour stats class in the morning (pity me, seriously) and work in the afternoon, I do stay busy. Yet, evenings and weekends are free game. Many of my close friends have moved out of cute little Cache Valley this summer, which leaves me in that awkward situation where you know you have the best of friends but know you need to make some new ones for situations like this. Oh gosh does that sound like I am looking for friends to "use"?  Thankfully for me, I have some family that keeps me quite entertained.

I'm at that stage in life where I am feeling really selfish. Selfish in the way that I want to focus on me time to figure out what, where, and how I want to live. I know where I want to be eventually, but what about now? I have the tendency to focus a great deal on the future and not what is right in front of me at this moment. We all go through this every day and every week.

There was a week when a Grey's Anatomy crave hit. I was unstoppable. Raging through episode hour after hour, I had never binged so bad. Grey's addicts unite!! Fortunately I got over my Netflix binge and was onto the greater outdoors.

And I will have you know that this summer is giving me the chance to let my inner granola out. I cannot get enough of the outdoors lately it would seem!

Yes, this summer is my selfish summer to have outdoor adventures be they little or small for me. Being outside makes me happy. Boys, you wanna take me on a date that will really impress me? Take me on a hike.

Thus far into the summer, let me remind you it's almost July, I have done pretty well at being adventurous by myself for most of the days with the exception of the Grey's week. My dog, Sage, does at times accompany me on solo hikes.

Many, many, many weekend trips to my second home, Bear Lake

Starry nights captured in Bear Lake with cousin chats that range far and wide in topics. Bigfoot comes up every now and again which scares us back inside.

The first part of June before sweet Madi left for St. George, we'd drive miles in the convertible

My sweet Mummy and I on a small hike to overlook Bear Lake. It's no secret that we look a lot a like...but shhhhh....I act like her too.

Drives up Logan Canyon are on point this summer

A quick weekend trip up north to visit my friends in their working habitat and the great Yellostone National Park (filling up your car with gas is the devil but worth every penny and singing Taylor Swift songs each mile)

We're candid, don't tell us otherwise

What you can't see in this picture is that it is snowing... And we're still pretty freaking happy even though it was cold and well... maybe too much information but breakfast did NOT agree with my stomach this morning and the experience using a national park bathroom is probably something we will leave for another day. Did I mention the rugged, handsome park ranger was cute? I would ask him for directions any day. Back me up Sid and Ko.

 Bear Lake at its finest

Baking adventure: Mom's 50th surprise birthday cake! It's a "naked" cake so she could embrace the birthday suit idea (no eyes were harmed or scarred)

Photography adventures are always around the corner

Including playing with sparklers all by your lonesome!

Not too many do the Spring Hollow hike by Crimson Trail...It's a beaut!

My little hiking buddy

So far the summe adventures are going grand. I'm going to try and do my best to keep this more updated on this adventurous summer. It's gonna be a good one.

April Then & April Now

        This afternoon I found a fairytale, a love story so close to home that I have never heard. I payed a visit to my Grandma Lila and Grandpa Melvin's house on this rainy afternoon. Upon arriving I found the two snuggled up in blankets listening to soft music from the T.V. Have you ever heard or known your grandparents love story? 

 Today I got to hear my grandparent's and it was a priceless moment I will forever cherish.

"Grandpa, how did you and Grandma meet?" I asked. My grandpa shyly smiled and began into their story...  

Grandpa Melvin served an LDS mission with two companions named Jay and DeVerle, they were Grandma Lila's two brothers. Grandpa had first seen Grandma via a picture the brothers carried with them. Grandpa told the two brothers he was going to marry their sister before they got home from their missions. 

 Grandma however was already dating a boy in the Navy. Grandpa had other plans. 

 On April 21, 1956 Grandpa Melvin arrived home from his 2 year mission. 

Grandpa phoned Jay and DeVerle's parents to let them know what good missionaries they had been. The parents of Jay and DeVerle were pleased to hear from Grandpa Melvin and invited him and his parents to come to dinner. As they sat down for dinner, Grandpa Melvin got to set eyes on the "real" Grandma Lila who sat down at the table. 

 While telling me this part of the story Grandpa looked over at Grandma and moved his eyebrows up and down then looked back at me and winked. 

My Grandma giggled and the story continued... 

 After dinner, Grandpa and his parents thanked the Hoth's for a wonderful dinner and began their way home. Grandpa's dad Ken, my Great-Grandpa told him, "I'd go after her if I was you." That's just what he did! 

 He asked my Grandma Lila on a date to attend a movie. At this point my Grandma interrupted and exclaimed, "I didn't tell him till later on when we were married that I had seen the movie already but didn't want to tell him!" Grandpa came back with, "I knew she was just watching me the whole time." 

 Afterwards, the two went to Artic Circle for a root beer float. Again Grandma chimed in, "He also didn't find out till later in the marriage that I thought he was cheap because I wanted a hamburger and I only got a root beer float, I was hungry!" Grandpa smiled back at her. "From then on she had her way." 

 When the first date was all said and done, Grandma went back and told her friends that she was going to marry him. Their second date was attending Stake Conference together where both sat next to each other with their arms folded. Grandma sneakily grabbed Grandpa's hand and held it for the remainder of the time. 

June came along and the boy from the Navy that Grandma had previously dated stopped by. Grandma's little rendevous with the Navy boy made her hesitant about her new found feelings for Grandpa. She was torn between the two boys. Grandpa took Grandma on a drive up to the Logan Temple for a little chat. 

Little did Grandma know that Grandpa had the engagement ring with him and he was ready to pounce. 

Grandpa was so giddy while telling the story and couldn't take his eyes off of Grandma. Grandpa popped the question to Grandma, "Would you marry me?". Grandma told Grandpa about the Navy boy and said how she had been a little hesitant. Grandma jumped in now with excitement in her voice, "He told me that if I didn't marry him then he would join the army, he was even crying!" The image of my grandparents so young and in love at the tender age of 19 and 22, with my Grandpa tearfully figting for his love melted my heart right then and there. 

Grandpa talked Grandma into marrying him and gave her the ring...he was quite the catch. They were married September 28, 1956 in the Logan Temple.

 I see the way these two look at each other and what I see before me is true love... A love so strong that has lasted 58 years through 3 children, 8 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. Through health ailments and tough times they remain as one. 

I asked her the key to it all....directed to me she said, "You're looking for Mr. Perfect. He wasn't perfect and neither was I. You're not gonna find a perfect one." 

Our grandparents show and tell us the values and commitments it takes to stay together. We could all learn a lesson from their stories and lives. 

Have you asked your grandparents their love story?