We Can't Avoid This Anymore - Digging the Floor of Our Italian Homestead
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.พ. 2025
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We've been avoiding this for months... but we can't avoid it anymore. This week we continue digging the floor of our Italian homestead. We've already spent weeks digging through clay and solid stone in order to put in a crawl space to help with moisture problems.
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We are Heather, Bradey, Alexa and Chloe. We purchased an abandoned stone barn in the foothills of the Italian Alps and we are working together as a family to renovate and restore this old stone barn into our dream home.
Heather I have to say, I admire how hard you work along side your husband. You are quite the team, and I really don’t hear any complaining. It’s just great to be so young and strong.
Yes, she is SO cheerful ❤
Honestly, you two amaze me. I am so impressed with your determination, supportive partnership and love for this project.
@@terrecisco2467 Ditto!
Heather, you are brilliant 👏
❣I love how Heather while working with her husband, is still also really involved with her girls' education even though they have already started school. Home-School moms rule!!! ...even when they are not doing it full-time, the experience gives them the insight to stay involved and on top of their children's education ...So admirable!! ❣
U2 are very charming persons 👌☺️👍🎉
You are a brave man for taking on such a big project. I can’t tell you how much I look forward to seeing your videos every Sunday. I would love seeing 2 videos a week as 1 video is just not enough.
Thank you so much!
@@RaisingVoyagers One video a week is quite sufficient!! You two work SO HARD!!! (Do people know what goes into making one?!?! HOURS!!!!! & hours and hours!!). Please don't overwork! Balance is THE most important aspect of all. I LOVE your videos too (am addicted). But waiting is good!
Brady, you not only work very hard, but very smart! I cant express adequately what great choices you and heather are making in remaining positive, remaining motivated, and staggering your work so you don’t become too overwhelmed with the massive project.
Plod on kids!!! In time, your house will NOT BE just stone and beams with dug out soul floors, but it will be a home, a haven, your place of peace and comfort. Dont give up, because your dream is possible, and that is more beautiful than most understand.
Your friend,
Beth in Boise.
Thank you so much for that encouragement!!!
I cannot believe the progress you guys have made. It's beginning to look like a home although there is still a long way to go. I purchased one of the security cameras that you mentioned on a previous video. After plugging it in, I discovered that I have a family of possum eating my cat food. You should see the babies, they are so the size of your hand. It's a good thing to have them around, they eat snakes, bugs, rodents, and cat food. As always, thanks for the video. They are by far better to watch than anything on TV.
Thanks! And so much fun seeing that on your cameras!!
Awww. Love baby possums!!
I’m a rock hound, so I love all the stone! Watching you all dig made my back hurt for you guys! 🫣 I look forward to your progress each week, it’s already so beautiful! You guys make a great team!
Can you link the security camera please. Thank you
Possums eat ticks also!
The digging look’s so difficult! You both are such hard workers! Thank you for bringing us along on your journey!🙏🙏🙏Blessing’s
Thanks for watching!
I've been an RN from 1976 to 2020. I never hurt my back at 5'1.5, because I used by thighs, physics, and extra time to lift, roll, and move. Most men use muscle...and are living with back pain for here on out. Most of my patients weighed more than me at 112 lbs, and some over 400 lbs. Today at 67 I have no back pain or injury. I love your family, optimism, beautiful vision for aesthetics, your child rearing, and a lifestyle, and hard work. I cannot wait to watch your next video. I just want you to enjoy your aging life and your hard work. I'm busting your mechanics and want the best for you. ❤❤❤. I'm not done. Do not lift and twist, take any weight off the low back fulcrum; like a ballerina, keep the pelvis quiet and keep the body aligned. There is no timetable like your future. I'll quit now. Love you and your family. I'm so excited for your adventure, journey, and future joy.🥰
Yes, we're very worried ❤
Charlie Brown's pumkin patch! cool! :)
16:00 What does barking your knuckles mean?
it means to take a layer of skin off by scraping them against something rough by accident, leaving a nice red raw patch.
The phrase originates from hewing logs by hand with an ax. You usually use a broad ax with an offset handle to prevent hitting your knuckles on the log. To bark your knuckles in this situation is literally to scrape your knuckles on the bark of the log.
Greetings from the sunny climes of Basle, Switzerland
It seems that Heather is not used to manual work; but she is really trying her very best. Congrats Heather. You are the best partner to your husband.👋👋👋💪💪💪 Looking forward to the ultimate transformation of your house. The stones are beautiful!
It's pretty rough work, and if she overdoes it she could injure herself. Even experienced workers get injuries all the time. Hope she eases herself into it & doesn't overdo it. I even worry about Brady's back and knees ... they're the first to go as we age ...without proper care & supplements like chondroitin, glucosamine & MSM, etc.
Oh dear, I'm addicted to your Sunday video. I'm sad to miss it today, I hope you all are ok!
As always, my prayers and well wishes go with you as you make your new home together. Please be careful.
My 78 year old mom and I love watching your journey!! Pray for you all!!! So proud of you and what you are allowing your girls to experience. My father sent me to Europe to live and study from the age of 11 to 16 during the summer's. I am from GA. Then I would come home and beg him to not send me back to the local school. We weren't that well off and so I went back. Changed my life being raised away from the states. The local GA schools turned it back. I was never happy being in the states again. Please keep your babies away and loving the world. I know you will. Mom and I send our love!!! ❤❤❤
Thank you so much!!! I had a similar experience growing up and can relate :)
I'm exhausted just watching the two of you work! When this is all complete it will be extraordinary - and you will feel such a sense of accomplishment!
You went where Angels fear to tread…..you have to be either a bit nutty or so totally in love with what y are doing, to take a project like this on!
Very brave!
L💗ve!!
The wood grain you’re chipping away at is beautiful.
You guys work so well together. I'm.sure this whole process has tested your relationship but you're forging on and setting example. Great stuff guys.
Gutsy effort Brady and Heather. Slowly but surely!
I feel I’ve done a workout just watching you both work so so hard. I cannot wait to see the end result. You won’t be able to place a value on this home with the blood sweat and tears that’s been invested. ❤
You have an awesome "new" broadaxe. I enjoy watching you make your own door lintels from wood gathered on your own property. One thing that would make me feel better as a mom and grandmother, please get some leather protective covers to protect the blades for storage and as you carry them up and down your terraces.
Lots of work going on at your breathtaking property. I enjoy watching.
Good idea! My dad had a leather cover with a snap ...& I think an older one tied.
You guys are doing such a GREAT job!! It’s amazing how competent Brady is😮 BTW you really have such a stunning view!!🤩
I remember seeing a video that you showed about fixing up the former animal shed since some of your "neighbors" (meaning folks in the town) were "borrowing" some of your equipment pieces without the intent of returning them. Makes me mad, but I'm happy that you fixed up the shed. Hopefully it has worked and you have no longer had missing pieces! Y'all are doing such a great job.
So many yellow flowers on your pumpkin plants...that is a promise of many more huge pumpkins😊.
We are going to have a TON of pumpkins!
The spontaneous pumpkin patch discovery is so fun!!! It’s right out of a storybook--literally! I used to read the story TOO MANY PUMPKINS by Linda White to my second and third graders. The main character has just this experience and the problem of how to get rid of all the pumpkins turns into something wonderful. As a retired teacher, I have been recording some favorite stories for my friends who still teach to use with their students. This book is by far the favorite. I think you and the girls would love this story. I don’t think I am supposed to leave links here, but my name and the book title should get you there. Hope you enjoy it. That is some really tough work you’re doing right now!! Stay well!!
You two are so much fun to watch working together. Volunteer pumpkins in the mulch pile. We also got a surprise pumpkin patch in our mulch pile. At least 6 pumpkins so far.
Working together makes life so much better regardless of all else going on. :You are so lucky to be working together as a team and as a family.
Hey Gang 👋, Heather and Brady, they don't build them like they used to,
You are an inspiration motivater for other to follow ìñ your footsteps, God's Good Blessings to you and your beautiful family keep up the great work love U guys XOXOXO stay safe and healthy, allways enjoy the cathedral bells in the background, reminds me of home
I remember church bells always ringing in Ireland when I went to school there in the late 70's. I loved it and found it comforting ...the idea that they had been ringing for centuries despite war, famine, pestilence, etc.
Hey 👋Kindly, I grew up in former Yugoslavia now Croatia (non COMMUNIST) we traveled to Italy across the Adriatic only 90min. with a ferry,
God's Good Blessings to you and yours 👍❤
I love what you’re doing so much. If I was young again in my dream world I’d try to make it happen. I LOVE everything and I mean EVERYTHING!
Hello to you from North Carolina. I am Larry Kallam, retired Spanish teacher from Elkin….foot of the Blue Ridge mountains. I am enjoying following you and your joys and also understanding your struggles I was in Italy in 1973. Yrs ago long time ago. Will write more later Larry Kallam
Every minute of all your work is hard and back breaking. Bravo guys for taking on such a huge project! It will be worth it in the end. Yes, there will come a day when you go on and enjoy living in your home that will have completely transformed by then. You are such kind, enjoyable people, I truly hope you will continue to periodically share your lives with us.
Thank you so much!
Yes! They are one of the most charming and mutually loving and respectful couples I've seen on YT & still manage to be lighthearted and even joyful ...letting insult & injury slide off their backs like fluffy ducklings happily oblivious to this often cruel world. God Bless Them!! ❣
I really love the sloth! Great toys.. My goodness what a hard job you have and always with good humour. I hope you get your Visa because it is unthinkeable that they don't give it to you. I look forward to your videos and admire your energy and skills..
Just discovered your channel. I can’t believe the task you’re undertaking, but what a location! It will be absolutely beautiful when you’re finished. It’s so picturesque just like a painting.
Keep up all the good work! Everything will work out in the end! Blessings!
Where are you dumping all the digput dirt??? Are you building up areas in the yard??? Your girls are living such an enriched life!!! 🥰🎶❤️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For now building up the area, but eventually the dirt will be removed from the property.
This house is all worth it so beautiful and deferent and the view is priceless keep the hard work is going to paid off! 💃👍💪
You two are a joy to watch create your homestead in magnificent surroundings. Go you!
It’s so interesting to watch your progress and see your home emerging! I’m so impressed by your hard work and ingenuity!
Finley a proper axe! It’s been bothering me but I stayed silent. I remember hewing axes also being hefted on a long handle for two hand use above, but I guess small can also work, just requires more muscle.
Those stone walls turned out a real gem❤ not to mention how majestic is the surrounding ❤
Hi Elisa🌹
How are you doing?
When you need to sharpen an axe in such a rough state you do most of the work with a grinding disc on an electric tool and you just finish the blade with the file. Nice antique!
Welcome to archaeology! 😂 This reminded me of some excavations I've done. Inside houses. I moved ca. 40 cubic metres of soil one day, by hand. Well, first by trowel, then a shovel into a wheelbarrow, and finally to the soilheap. A small excavator would have come in handy, I have to say. 😅
Well done, you lot! It is going steady. Should look absolutely brilliant in a bit. ❤
You do whatever you're in the mood to do. All tasks have to be done eventually. BTW, green pumpkin pie is a thing. In the book "Litte House In the Prairie," Ma Ingalls makes this pie and Pa thinks its an apple pie.
Simply impressed with the amount of angles you were able to capture of digging such a small space! You’re getting really good at this TH-cam thing.
I look forward to your videos as you build a home and a new life for your family in Italy. Praying you are all well, safe, and may God’s favor open doors when it seems there are none.
Dear Both, goodness you work hard! I DO hope you get that mini excavator. What a huge help that will be. I also hope that you are doing your back extensions and strengthening exercises- my hubs is a physio. He watched an episode and said that he hoped you were both looking after your backs and shoulders! That excavator is a doubly good idea. As to pumpkins. I chuck the seeds and parings on the compost heap. We often get “ wild” ones growing. They grow up the lemon tree and over. It’s free food! This year we got “free” marrow like gourds. They grew huge…. Great in soup and I hid them in casserole. Save the seeds from everything and plant them on your property. Apples, lemons, melons, pumpkins, potatoes that have gone sprouty, old garlic, tops of everything. If it doesn’t grow it will enrich the soil. We are in the BOP in NZ a similar climate to you. I’ve just planted sprouty garlic, by Christmas I will have a huge crop. Love your videos. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you. Love 💕
👍🍎🍋🍉🥔🧄
The best way to learn is to find someone who still does this kind of axe work and ask him to show you; watch him work. In my youth I did farmhouse restoration with my dad and when there was a task new to us, that’s what we did. Most of the time a skilled craftsman would be happy to teach you as this is a dying craft, so his work is not threatened. It’s a great feeling when you’re working the right way and continuing a tradition.
That's what TH-cam is for :) I've watched close to 2 dozen professionals to learn :)
@@RaisingVoyagers yes youtube does help. We didn’t have that back in the day lol. However, if you do find a local maestro d’ascia you’d learn much more.
I forget, why did you have to dig down. I’m so enjoying your journey and happy you are taking me along.
...drainage from the hill behind them I think (?) I forgot the details too.
Holy cow! Can't believe you guys are still having to work on digging out those floors! What an enormous amount of work. Thankfully, I've finally gotten to an age where I can't do digging like that anymore 😂. Seriously, my body wouldn't be able to take it, and I have a bad back. Kudos to you both for not giving up. The sense of accomplishment will be HUGE when you're finished restoring those floors! ❤😊
You guys have found a very special place. The "hand to hand combat/construction" with the old stones makes me sore and exhausted just watching. Brady your skill sets in all this is impressive, especially the solo work. Like I tell people, construction is hard, particularly the level of close quarters demo/excavation you are undertaking. You inspire me to get after all those "future' projects, to use an old Texas expression, I keep fixing to get to. Buona giornata. Alla prossima!
I'm so grateful to follow along and get to see your progress while at the same time envying you. I would have loved to been able to do something like this when I was young. My prayers are with you and I hope that you don't have more problems with permits other than what you already know needs to be done. You are such a great couple and work together so well it is really nice to see.
Yes, it is!
Heather Bro I’m watching you from Ireland, I Admire your personality and you are really so patient, you have such a lovely Family, I always praying for you from the Bottom of my Heart to Achieve your Project you are living in Paradise.
GOD BLESS YOU & YOUR FAMILY!!!
My wife and I just discovered you yesterday searching shows on Italy. What a gem of a find! We are truly inspired by your way of being in the world that entails hard work, trust, respect for nature and history, simplicity, joy and wonder. What a great gift you are passing on to your daughters! We'll be binge watching your videos to catch up and look forward to following your weekly posts. Grazie mille.
You have come so far. I appreciate all the handwork you are doing. Can't wait til you move in.
Heather…. I grow pumpkins and you may want to try your hand at cucumbers….they should do well in the climate there…
We did lasagna gardening for years, and layered in our kitchen scraps. We stopped doing it a couple years ago as we were having an issue with Ravens picking through it and dropping it on the road and our driveway, but now we get tons of volunteer potatoes every year. LOL
That looks like lovely soil for your garden😘
I was thinking the same thing
I think your way of hand hewing the logs is good. Do what is comfortable for your body! The original way of hand hewing logs might not be the most ergonomic way. Neat that you have a volunteer pumpkin vine that came up. I had voluteer tomatoes and eggplants come up in my garden last year. Probably from where various animals plundered the garden.😊
That first technique looked dangerous for the feet😮I think your way is safer and better for you!
You all Rock😊 seriously, you have the best attitude, keeping busy while waiting on the visa. Praying for your success❤
It is good both of you are young and strong. Be cautious of overdoing the physical work so you don’t get back problems.😄❤️❤️❤️
I don't have young children in my family to teach or entertain, but I happyly would buy that cool set your sweet girls enjoy so much if I would have. You guys are so creative!
Looks wonderful and I can’t wait to see when you complete the works! It’s going to be beautiful!
As the others i'm a good and patient viewer.. passionate to wait this amazing project heading to the next landmark
You guys are very hard workers. I'm glad that the connexion is not very far away, but I have. feeling you are going to go through th stone wall and not around it. It was very cool to see the pumpkins growing on your property-eep because they grew by chance. Have a great week!!
That indeed is a tremendous amount of work! I wish you strength and stamina! Blessings 🙏💞
Hi there jist small advice - i can't see you use the "machete" take look for drawknife for removing bark from trees. I love what you do. Im from Czech Republic living already 8 years in Switzerland. I love everything that's old because it has a SOUL. Thats way i love what (and how) you do. I do more than 20 years' work as maintenance man, and im the lucky one that my job it's my hobby.
What beautiful place to have a beautiful life.
I think the way you've been cutting the beams has resulted in a great rustic look, & I REALLY hate to see you standing on the log as you chop---looks like an excellent way to lose a foot! I'll bet that excavator is going to make you guys very happy by making short work of digging out the remaining rooms.
Yup, the soil removal by hand work is a huge job. getting the correct clearance to install the main floor is most important. I did a similar job; filling 5 gallon buckets, packing them to a pick-up and dumping. 5 yards latter, the job was completed. One step at a time, you'll get there!!
My dad used a draw knife to put a rough edge on oak beams for our family room.
You are both such an inspiration love how you always have a positive outlook.... so happy you found someone to help remove all that dirt...the work you are learning on hewing those logs I kind of agree on the body posture,, positive energy for you and your family
God bless you guys, you are working so, so hard on your home! You are quite a team, I can’t wait to see the finished product!!🥰
Thank you so much!
Most of this years Tomato’s on our allotment are self setters that I just threw down and dug in. Nature is so very clever! 👏👏👏👏💗💗
Hi Ava🌹
How are you doing?
Such hard work! But you both are amazing to watch. Beautiful location. Enjoy what you can.
Grazie per l’amore che dimostrate per il nostro Paese.
Good job. Hard work. Little steps. You'll get there
I am so in awe of you both. Keep up the good works and especially your positivity.
For small works and more precision you can use a roncola, it's a typical tool of that Bergamo's zone and it's very useful.
Yes I have several and love them!
I can’t wait until it’s finally finished and you have furniture.
I hope they get a few choice antique/hand-carved hutches with antique or hand-made Italian dishes and crockery and maybe an antique boudoir or armoire!!
Hard work and fresh air makes you so healthy. You look like high school kids with clear, rosy complexions.
😊😄☺
You must have good muscles now, you have both worked so hard . Soon be finished ⭐️⭐️❤️❤️❤️❤️👏👏👏👏👏👏
Please be so careful, with those heavy shovel loads & barrow loads. You may think you are coping now but it may be in another year or so and pain in your back will hit with avengance. We did the landscaping around our pool when it had done nothing but rain for weeks, machinery couldnt be bought in, so we manaually moved all the deco. Now back problems , a crushed disc limits what can be done and it was from those heavy wet loads
Pumpkins are a great fall vegetable. There are so many things you can do with pumpkin. My aunt used to make canned candied pumpkin for the December holidays. She gave it away as presents to family members. It's good chilled with whipped cream on top as a dessert.
🥰wow you have amazing digging mashine. 🥰
Thank you 🤗
The vibrating shovel ...or the husband Brady? 😉😄☺
I really admire your work ethics!
When I think of all the work you have to do to up to code, I wonder how lucky the original owners had it. Love your videos and family and the hard work and dialogue.
Safety : When using a hand-electric machine , before starting pull the electric-line on you shoulder in order to prevent accident beatween you and the electric line.🤨🤔😉😊
Nice job all of you.
Bon courage and stay safe all together.👍👍👍👍👍
It’s like playing in the dirt when we was young did this to make you smile 🙃 hard hard work fabulous home is were the heart is ❤️ omg sometimes goats birds drop seeds I feed squirrels birds ducks we get doves blue jays cardinals every yr I grow garden. I am a artist very busy life ‼️‼️🐾🐾excited to keep busy game Called Pokémon I walk Pokémon because life is short time flys by enjoy what makes us happy ‼️‼️love you guys proud.
Getting it done! ❤
Good Heavens 😩Your work load is INTENSE ! Take care of yourselves ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤You are doing an Incredible job ! 😊
I am sooooo excited to see the completed project.
Wow. I loved the segment about the tools... it's so nice to learn something I know nothing about.
Is a Septic Tank not feasible? Seems like it would be a much "easier" project (with an excavator of course). Plus you'd never have to be concerened with a break or blockage in the long line.
You both work hard, God bless you!
Rotate the log and do strike the top in a side swipe motion so you follow the grain
I was glad to see wife using her legs to lift the shovelfuls. Be careful with jackhammer. We were shown a film at work called "Backfire" where the jackhammer got stuck and the guy jerked on it and screwed his back up permanently. Great job and impressive progress.
Oh, I remember well how backbreaking that digging is. You both are doing awesome. Those techniques are interesting. I think you have to go with the one that works best for you. ❤
An old friend, my father, told me to point the wheelbarrow in the direction I intend to push it, before filling it ! No backing up and turning.
285 meters is 935 feet. Can't you install a septic system it will be cheaper and less problems in the long run. Just rewatched you route for the sewer you should change your thinking on the direction you're proposing. vertical is perfect fall for a gravity system so drop off a retaining wall or two then turn toward the sewer connection that will save some length. you will need cleanouts at every turn and on runs every 100ft, so future clogs can be snaked clear! big project. Consider a sewer pump you will be able to use smaller flexible pipe. still major cost and work. good luck, good content, cool property. nice family
Volunteer plants from compost grow the best