More time for what you love
Today was a strange and sad day as we said good-bye/see you later to all of our friends on Spencer Farm and Alabama. This shouldn’t have been that difficult, however, when the time arrived, both Jason and I found ourselves at a loss for words. We worked hard 5 or more hours every week day (the kids worked a couple of hours each day themselves) and honestly enjoyed having something purposeful to do in these strange times. Our family bonded with the baby goats, Daisy the puppy (who was looking less like a puppy in the past couple of weeks), the chickens, the cats, Winnie (the dog) and we even grew fond of the skittish cows. Above all, we shared a stressful time with some straight-up wonderful people for two months. In all honesty, we could have easily seen ourselves staying for the summer…that’s how much we enjoyed being with the Spencers, Chris, and Augusta at Spencer Farm.
Monday May 11 – Day 57 at the Farm
To start the week off we cut some limbs down at the studio and Tricia and the kids hauled the brush away with the tractor and dump trailer. Liam is getting really good at backing that tractor.
Liam finished off his hat and, rightfully so, is pretty proud of that thing. Chris and him both wore them to dinner at the Spencer’s house. That is one souvenir he won’t forget the story of!
We’ve decided that we’ll be leaving Spencer farm on Sunday. We’re sad to see this chapter of our adventure coming to an end. Our current plans are to head to Michigan to see family and then figure out what is next for us on this journey.
Monday May the4th be with you – Day 50 at the Farm
Ella heard something in the goat pasture this morning and turned out it was a small bunny in distress due to this rat snake. The bunny didn’t make it and neither did the snake. Put another notch on the garden hoe.
Monday April 27 – Day 43 at the Farm
The first tomato in Leda’s garden. In April. It has been crazy watching things grow so fast here. We put these plants in the ground the week we arrived – about 40 days ago. Who knows, maybe we’ll be around to see a red tomato?
From the production that brought you Monterey Bay Aquarium, Music to Relax your Mind, comes, Spencer Farm, Parts 1 and 2! (This was so fun to produce!!!)
HallackTube Productions has Partnered with WWOOF hosts Chip and Laura Spencer to create stunning footage of rural A.L. Featuring music by Mac and V.K Spencer, interviews with many different people, and baby animals; Spencer Farm, Alabama makes for some real nice scenery. HallackTube productions presents: Spencer Farm, Alabama, Parts 1 and 2!!!
That one took quite some time to produce, but it was really fun getting all those shots. We have enough footage to get a deleted scenes and bloopers video. 🙂
Well, I hope you enjoyed these two videos that took me almost two months to put together! Could you please subscribe if you haven’t already? Thanks for your support! 🙂 Stay tuned, and stay safe!!!
Monday April 20 – Day 36 at the Farm
Today we did some rewiring of the shop to make some plugs more accessible and also added a light above the stove in the bunkhouse and a switch to turn it off and on. (if you think the switch always comes with adding a light – you haven’t been in the bunkhouse). The job was done farm style, which simply means you go dig through the barn and find what you can use from the salvage pile.
One of our favorite things on the farm is dinner with the Spencers 4 nights per week. Laura is always cooking up something awesome which is no small feat with 11 of us on the farm right now. We get cleaned up from our day and head to the farmhouse at 7pm. I enjoy watching the kids jump on their bikes and roll through the group of cows that are usually blocking the road.
Our ride back is usually in the dark. Sometimes we use a flashlight and sometimes we’ve got enough moonlight to avoid the fresh cow patties. Ella has gotten good at identifying stars and constellations. We’ll have to spend some more time outside at night this summer.
Monday, April 13 – Day 29 at the Farm
This week begins a Fulltime Families “Rally in Your Rig” event. We missed the morning kickoff but we did the afternoon scavenger hunt and farm themed it! Here is what was on the list and the collage photos under it is our finds on the farm (in no particular order).
- Something the same color as your shirt.
- An item with a date on it.
- Something about half the size of your shoe.
- Your favorite snack.
- An unconventional item that can hold water.
- A picture of an animal.
- An item that starts with the letter M.
- Something from your bedtime routine.
- Something with similar weight to a feather.
- An item that smells fresh.
- Something you can recycle.
- Something taller than you.
- A group of items that contains the same number as you have members in your family.
- A book.
- Something that has a campground name on it.
- Something with a Fulltime Families logo on it.
- An item that came from a National Park.
- A printed family photo.
- Something that is purple.
- An item that would sink in a pool.
I am very happy to announce that me and Ella have started podcasts! You can now listen on Anchor and Spotify! Links down below. HallackCast will have lots of different topics, including book talks, updates about our travels.
Monday, April 6 – Day 22 at the Farm
This morning we made tomato cages from concrete wire reinforcement. I wasn’t watching what I was doing and sliced my leg on the sharp wire. Needed a pretty big bandage – but at least I didn’t need to break out the suture kit.
Mac loaned Liam an electric guitar to practice on. It’s so neat to see him make progress on it so quickly. I’m really glad he didn’t have an amp to loan him!
Augusta and I went to spray the garden after dinner. There was a snake that gave us a bit of a scare as we didn’t see it until Augusta stepped on it. I chopped its head off with a hoe. Chris came and claimed it – turned out it was another copperhead. Will have to be more careful walking around in the dark.
Monday March 30 – Day 15 at the Farm
Today, if it weren’t for the virus, we would have said our goodbyes and left Spencer farm. We’d be on the road connecting the dots between Marion Junction, AL and Great Falls, MT to start our Fulltime Families caravan to Alaska.
However, we’re here for now in a safe spot with good people. We’re healthy, active, and learning. We’ll fly our family flag and make each day our adventure.
