Voyagers, your goat-gotten planter boxes need to have two rows of 1/4" drain holes along the bottoms of them for proper soil drainage, especially if you are using high clay content soil in the bottom of them. Clay blocks water drainage and it holds water so the roots on your garlic and other things will be too wet and likely have mold and mildew...mixing free dead leaves (and some straw if you have some) into your crappy clay-laden soil before you put the good soil on top would greatly help with drainage also. Brady even commented when he was salvaging the goat-jungle-gym planters that the garlic plant roots and cloves were very "wet and mushy"...that was because of the clay soil on the bottom, no organic roughage material mixed into the crappy clay and no adequate drainage on the bottoms.
As I watched this video, outside on my patio, and enjoyed the birds in Italy chirping I had to pause it because I thought I heard live birds chirping after a few minutes. Sure enough a bird landed nearby and was chirping back at your video!!! All the way across the world in California birds are saying hello ❤
Great to see some news about Stella. She is missed, but safe in her new home. I hope you can get a dog soon for security and lots of fun for you and the girls. Great to see how the garden is going from strength to strength. That must bring so much pleasure. Brady sure is keeping fit with all that hard physical labour. Good man! Hopefully the finished product will be fantastic. Thanks for sharing everything. It's load of fun.
Brady, you are an amazing man! What a hard worker! So tenacious! And you cook, too! Little by little is a great motto! Can’t wait to see all that goes back into that floor. What a true labor of love.
I enjoyed your walk on the trail Heather, seeing some of the surrounding area. It made a nice change. So much hard work being done in the room, i love the outdoor kitchen😍
For garlic, my experience is that they enjoy a good but drained soil otherwise the bulb will rot easily... So mixing clay on the bottom and "good- but heavy - soil on the top is probably not ideal, as the clay will retain the water and the good soil will stay humid for long. My advice: in the bottom put a layer of thinly crushed stones or sand, mixed with a liiitle bit of good soil. then a layer of your clay/rocky soil, then top layer of good soil but still mixed with sand. (so with rain the sand will finally permeate where it needs all to go, besides sand/thinly crushed stones is way cheaper)
Nothing more honest than a person using a shovel. Keeps you strong and purposeful. Keep up the good work. Looking good. All the best from Winnipeg MB Canada.
Grazie ragazzi. Guardando con quale amore e dedizione state facendo il lavoro di recupero di questa vecchia casa, riempie il cuore di gioia. La pietra ha sempre richiesto dedizione e impegno per essere lavorata e mi piace molto vedere che volete fare le cose da soli per essere certi.di farle al meglio. Vi seguo sempre volentieri e faccio il tifo per voi perché tutto possa un giorno tornare a nuova vita. Un abbraccio . Giusi
So very impressed. You both work so hard….both physically and also the work (filming and editing) that is done to allow us to follow you on your journey.
These videos will be such a great family record of all that you have done for your home. I cannot believe the amount of work! I don’t know if we could have devoted that much time and effort. I am so amazed. Love watching these moments every week ❤
Compost in place - I do this with my garden. I put vegetable and fruit peels in my garden boxes. I dig a ditch about 5" through middle of the longest side of the box. Then, I put some vegetable peels and/or coffee/tea grounds in the ditch, and cover the ditch with soil. Make sure there are a few earthworms in the box.
Nice to see a check-in with Stella - she's definitely in a better place that's safer for everyone. I'm 100% with you on over-building things. Peace of mind that costs very little overall.
Yay, I'm so glad I found an update on Stella! After seeing the video of her having strong emotions about something, I wondered what you would decide to do with her
Just an DIY tip ...... if you wrap your tie wire in duct tape and then pull it from the middle of the roll, it will not go all over the place and become a tangled mess.
It’s just amazing the amount of work you are putting into rebuilding your home, and building your family’s future!! I know your home will be so beautiful when you get done. All of that work will pay off when you get done, and you will be able to step back and be so proud of what you have accomplished! ❤
Have you husband build you a soil sifter. It’s a wooden frame with chicken wire. Size it to fit on top of your wheelbarrow. You can sift your crummy soil to get out the stones and roots. Add some Compidt, Bone Meal and Gypsum. The gypsum will help break down the clay. You can add the gypsum to your existing vegetable beds as well. It’s usually the cheapest at a Feed Store. In Fall, take the leaves of deciduous trees, put them in a bin and stick your weed wacker in to shred them. Work into your vegetable beds and add Bone Meal to help brake down the leaves over winter. Add gypsum and Earth Worm Castings. You will have much better soil next season. I only did this application one year and now have earth worms in the soil. Keep the small rocks you sift out if the crummy soil. You can use them as gravel between your vegetable beds.
You might want to become one of the youtubers who keep old engine oil - you can use it on boards to stop the cement sticking, on old tools when you store them to stop them rusting, on the inside of a wheel barrow you've used to mix cement in, as a wood preserve on your pallet built shed, all sorts. It makes you wonder why some people throw it away. Nice video & good luck with the next one.
Hard to believe that a single human being is doing that work of a digger… I admire your patience! Obviously trained by your parents with your basement project. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I know it's a LOT of very hard work BUT keeping and protecting throughout construction, the fire place is ABSOLUTELY the right choice. Well done doing the RIGHT thing is often the hardest thing to do!
You guys were so brave to take on this project and have worked so hard. It will be such satisfaction to begin to see progress in the builing back starting soon. I am so anxious for you to have easier work and be able to feel your accomplishing your goals. I admire you and love watching your little family accomplishing your dreams and goals!! It is going to to be outstanding once your finished, Take care and blessing to you all. Admiring your courage and determination.
Yayy!!! I was waiting for a new video. Very impressed with how far you’ve come and so grateful to be on this journey along with you. Can I just mention also how great the editing is? The whole video was put together so well. Thank you for putting in the effort to do that for us. 💕
And as we also reside in Europe, we find we can feel much more safe at night, going to sleep with a fire going in the fireplace , as we got a small Stanley Wood / turf stove, and 1 small bag of turf or wood, and it heats our 4 bedroom home all day and all night long! Seriously, with a stone home, as we nearly all have, please consider it as it’s a great way of keeping your Home lovely and warm…and Safe ! Love your content! Well done! Friends in Ireland
You are making incredible progress on your restoration. The Little Passports programme looks very educational and fun for the girls!!! 🤗💖💖💖👏👏👏🎶🎶🎶❤️❤️❤️😎🇨🇦
Such a huge undertaking, but you have done so much. When it's finished it will look amazing. Good news that you still see Stella and that she's loving her new life. If you plant an herb garden you might want to do it in terracotta pots, that way the water can drain and unlike wood that can rot from water it will last longer
Thank you for sharing your journey with us. You have the most magnificent views from your mountain. Brady is such a hard worker and climbs up the mountain like it is no effort for him. I love watching the girls working with their dad. I did that and I have the best memories of times spent mixing concrete or fishing. Just doing something with my dad. Love to you both and the girls.
When my two oldest boys were little, I signed them up for a monthly "World Explorer's Club" that was similar to the one you get for your girls. There still are a couple of trinkets that came from these "lessons" around my house. We did not have the ability to do much actual traveling, but there are other ways to teach your children about this world and its people. Kids love to learn. We just need to do the best we can to keep that love alive. I used cooking to teach the boys about where some of the spices come from like cinnamon and vanilla and also taught them their fractions while we followed the recipes. Fractions are so much more fun when they come out as cookies at the end. I also love how your children get to work alongside you both. I have fond memories of working outside in the garden with dad, and inside the home cooking or sewing with mom.
I'm in Court House. I love watching every week! Since there is so many Biblical sites in Italy, I can't help but wonder what your property was like 2000 years ago. Rome seemed to be everywhere. It would be cool to find something buried in your property. I love talking to Andrea and Lisa about you guys!
As a geologist who loves rocks I don't envy you all the rock you're dealing with. (I do look forward eventually to future projects.) But it's going to be gorgeous!!
rosemary and sage are 2 good choices for that dish. Next time you may want to add a small branch of rosemary instead of the leaves, that way you can remove them at the end. The girls will probably prefer not to chew on the rosemary leaves. Marjoram is also a good addition.
The classic Italian fried potatoes are cut in very thin slices and fried raw in olive oil with salt and rosemary. But I recommend to use a small leaf of rosemary (as the one you took) while frying and then take it out, the aroma will be in the potatoes still. 🙂
Yes! I also watch him and his videos are very meditative ...yet the family joy and fun are also a great pivot when I need a "pick-me-up". They are temperamentally very different at least from the outside appearances. Yet their video skills and appreciation for nature and all its beauty is very similar! Some shots are breathtaking! ...for both! I don't know if Heather does all the video work ...but their videos & Martijns are movie quality ...even better if you ask me ... because the content is so REAL! ☺😊😇
My grandma always said “ Chi va piano va sano e lontano, chi va forte va alla morte “. But she also always said “Chi ha tempo non aspetti tempo “. So go slowly, but without letting the time goes by. Great work by the way!
Brady if you love rosemary as much as I do you might try a savory bread pudding. My favorite is Italian bread cubed and dried out for a day. A mix of whatever veggies you like. I like sun dried tomato in olive oil, Kalamata olives, red onion and marinated artichoke hearts. Toss veggies with bread and add herbs. I always use rosemary and whatever other fresh herbs look good. A good goat cheese is also a nice addition. Mix eggs and cream together. Enough to barely cover the bread, cheese and veggie mixture. I bake mine in a water bath. It is a wonderful meal especially served with fresh fruit. Leftovers are equally good. 🌻Darla
WOW! That sounds wonderful! I do something similar every Thanksgiving, but with the gluten-free cubed bread from health food stores. Rosemary and sage are in the mix, but I always add fresh herbs ...especially Rosemary ...not as strong as sage ...but one of the loveliest savory flavors with veggies, potatoes or chicken/turkey. Sun-dried tomatoes and Kalamata olives always bring a zing & zest to any meal! And the better olive oils are just plain good for you & add flavor to soups, salads and almost any dish.
Me too! ...girls are more important than goats ...and certainly more important than donkeys! But I thought it was a nice touch to show a donkey ...on Palm Sunday ...as that was Jesus' conveyance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday! 😉😇🙏
Just use Diesel oil on the forms for the concrete. That's what I used for years doing stemwall constructed houses. Comes right off, and it used to be cheaper. FYI
Enjoying your journey. In Texas it is common among ranchers and farmers to fill a hole with water, let it drain and then pour in quikcrete powder allowing the cement to set up using the surrounding moisture. Often used this way in post holes. You can add a small amount of water to the dry quikcrete in the post hole and then tamp to mix. Allowing it to set up as it absorbs the moisture. Makes life easier and men swear by it.
Good progress of digging so far. I have no doubt this place will look like heaven once it’s all ready. Oh an d year hanging pots of herbs by d kitchen will b good
Totally underestimated your ability to tackle this renovation. Glad to see and hear that you know some things and find out answers to how to do some other tasks. Impressed. Take care and subscribed to your channel.
I love the videos for many reasons. But at this time I want to compliment you on the making of the videos. Making videos is a talent and art. Your videos are very professional and enjoyable for all of us in the world. Thank you.
There is a man that I follow, that is renovating a couple of stone buildings, in the Italian Alps, like you. Martijn Doolaard, is his sight. You might want to check him out, if you haven't done so. already. What he is doing seems to be very similar to what you are doing. I just watched his latest video, and he was pouring cement in the floor, of one building. Anyway, you are doing amazing!
Heather, the two types of soil need to be mixed instead of layering them, unfortunately it does matter but wont take long to redo it, you'll be happy you did, it's all about the right combination. You're doing a beautiful job!! Thanks for sharing!! 😊
That's quite a job you've done Brady! Hats off to you on all your hard work and never giving up! It's going to be a marvellous home for you all once complete. The outlook alone is so soothing to the soul and what a place for the girls to call home. I also truly loved walking alongside Heather on her way to the house. I love walking on trails from my village as well and used to love doing the same in France, when I lived there. In Tuscany, where I live now, we have endless olive groves, vineyards and sunflower fields...all very beautiful to wander through as well as the chestnut forests up behind the village. I can understand your reasons for your efforts...so worthwhile! 🥰🤗💚🌳🏞🌞
Found your channel a few weeks ago and subbed immediately. Rescuing old houses in a culture where "rip it apart, build new" seems to be the norm is so important, I think! Thanx for taking us along the process. Have to watch your "old" videos to find out how that adventure started!! To make the soil for the garlic and the other garden beds better you could sprinkle a little bit of goat or sheep manure (don't use "hot" manure like horse or cow manure - that should be composted before using, because it would "burn" your plants up) on the soil and mulch around the plants with leaves, straw, hay, cut grass, wood chips etc. Just make sure, if you use straw or hay, that NO pestizides or herbizides where used growing that stuff, otherwise it could seriously kill your plants. But maybe collecting leaves from the woods around your place is allready enough for the size of those beds. Might be a nice project for the girls. Mulch helps to put organic matter back into the soil (worms will do that work for you) and that will make water retention better and the mulch will also keep the soil cooler and safe it from eroding.
Yes! I hope he now underpins the opposite ends of each of those big stones (where they meet) next ...so that each stone will be held up by columns essentially on both sides (like Stonehenge! 😉😊😆)
Your place seems so very peaceful. Take in time to just take it all in and relax when you can. Maybe you could get or make a couples swing to sit and enjoy the view. Best of luck with your work at your place.
It would be so great to see more day in the life vlogs, like what’s it like actually living there, where do u guys shop or go out and so on. I’m so excited to see what’s to come!
I'm so impressed with your work! I live in France and we don't have such strict laws. I think I would have given up having to dig out the floors like that😱😱😱 Your courage is inspiring. What a great life for your family!
I came across your videos at 4 am and have not stopped watching for a few hours when I get ready for bed. You both made an excellent decision choosing Italy! I think you made a great decision and are both brave and determined people- you have a wonderful life ahead of you. Your children are so creative, what a great new life. Thank you for sharing snd reminding us to slow down and live life!
You have both captured the GLORIOUS cacophony of the awakening earth in springtime in the Italian Alps so well, ...with joyful sweet birdsong choruses announcing Spring's arrival ...and it makes my heart glad, 💗🕊🐦🥀🌻🌷💗(though I am only experiencing it via your vlogs). It mirrors the lovely springtime here in the States in the southwest ...Oklahoma to be exact. Just out my now cracked windows and doors I can hear the beautiful birds singing God's praises on this Palm Sunday. 🌴🙏🐦YAY! for spring here in America and more southerly Europe, and many parts of the Northern Hemisphere around the word! 🌎You both seem to exude a kind of peace and contentment about you and are well on your way to achieving your goals ...while raising lovely, gracious and kind ...& funny daughters full of the adventurous spirit they inherited from you. 😊😘👏 Ah! to be young again! Your walk was sooooo exhilarating, yet meditative & lovely Heather, with the grassy and mossy paths and ancient village stairways , and trickling, tinkling brooks, streams and little waterfalls. Nature's music is indeed a salve for the soul! Thank you Brady and Heather both, for taking us along on this voyage of discovery! 🏔🌄🏰⛲ ~Tara (wife of Kindlydude)
I really enjoyed you video portion of the hike to the stone house. It gage us a chance to see more of the village and surrounding area. I would love to see more of that.
Try mixing the soil together. We live in New Mexico and my mom prepared the ground this way. It worked but I’m not sure the amount to each other. I think it was 1/2 and 1/2.
Hi Brady, its Steve from Brambletye, just watched your latest vlog. It may be an idea to think about using the igloo we did use this method, it saves a bunch on cement and gives you a ventilated barrier between your floor and the ground so feels warmer and less damp, a seismic ring around the room will surfice using 12mm or preferably 16mm rebar boxes. Our house has been transformed by using this method although normally reserved for commercial properties, it will save cost on cement aswell. If you want any pictures i have all our house pics and its a similar shape and depth to your own. Bravo for hand digging I used a digger ...Ah i just have seen you mentioned the igloo system on the vlog, anyway if you are interested just let me know all the best to the family. Steve Lynn^ Button
Have you watched Martijn Doolaard? He is doing exactly the same as you are doing right now, and he put up bracing to support his wall as he is digging down.
Yes your walk was beautiful Heather! And it good soil does matter very much! Just like eating healthy food matters to humans. You can put pebbles in the bottom of pots and planter boxes to give good drainage, but clay soil has terrible drainage. Vegetables need good soil and good drainage. And compost tea to feed them. You can make your own good potting soil… google Mel’s Mix potting soil for the recipe …
Great Work!! In some places "overkill" is just right. It is inspiring to see what 2 people can really DO when they put their minds to it. I learn something new with every video.
Hallo my friend and your family. I see al the work that you and family makes and I love it , because you and family is a really familie in good and bad. I am an old mann in 72 ears old but my heart is young . thanks for this. best from Jens in Denmark
Fantastic to follow your progress. Lovely family…I learn so much seeing your construction activities. I recently learned about how to burn a ‘top down’ fire. Works outdoor and indoor. Lots of descriptions on TH-cam. Principle is that burn starts on top of your wood stack & burns the smock/fumes . I use it in my slow combustion wood heater, it reduces smock & needs less tending when going. Good luck.
I had pure clay soil, I changed it to good garden soil by using wood chips that I had used as bedding for the chickens. I used the deep bedding method, 12" of woo chips for 6 months and the then changed it out twice a year. I put it into the garden and mixed it in. In 2 years, I could stick my hand in without a tool almost to my elbow. On my last harvest in November from 4 tomato plants, I picked about 25 lbs of of green tomatos. I hope this helped. I used to work for the Botanical Garden of Chicago.
OMG... Brady you cook also oh my God you work like a dog and you take a break to cook and you look so professional I am so impressed where did Heather find you she got herself a gem❤
Thanks for showing Stella’s new home. Also you both have such incredible knowledge and I’ve learned so much. I would love to see you guys speak Italian Including the girls. Maybe teach us a few words or sentences❤
I have a possible suggestion for your water under the foundation problem. In the United States they make some very small portable well drilling equipment that uses 1 and 1/2 or 2-in piping. Dig out maybe about a meter behind the house to give you enough room to use the small well drilling equipment and sink several pipes behind the house spaced apart and then put inexpensive wall pumps in each of the pipes. So when it rains and water accumulates inside the pipe area the well pumps will activate and remove the water from behind the foundation and pump it to the side of the house or into a cistern before you to use in the garden or for other purposes. It's just a suggestion and it might be costly so you'll have to weigh the benefit versus cost.
Voyagers, your goat-gotten planter boxes need to have two rows of 1/4" drain holes along the bottoms of them for proper soil drainage, especially if you are using high clay content soil in the bottom of them. Clay blocks water drainage and it holds water so the roots on your garlic and other things will be too wet and likely have mold and mildew...mixing free dead leaves (and some straw if you have some) into your crappy clay-laden soil before you put the good soil on top would greatly help with drainage also. Brady even commented when he was salvaging the goat-jungle-gym planters that the garlic plant roots and cloves were very "wet and mushy"...that was because of the clay soil on the bottom, no organic roughage material mixed into the crappy clay and no adequate drainage on the bottoms.
Water should drain in seven seconds. I grow in containers 'cause in the ground the first year, the garden took thirty seconds to drain.
As I watched this video, outside on my patio, and enjoyed the birds in Italy chirping I had to pause it because I thought I heard live birds chirping after a few minutes. Sure enough a bird landed nearby and was chirping back at your video!!! All the way across the world in California birds are saying hello ❤
Same here in Oklahoma!! 💗💓💞
Great to see some news about Stella. She is missed, but safe in her new home. I hope you can get a dog soon for security and lots of fun for you and the girls. Great to see how the garden is going from strength to strength. That must bring so much pleasure. Brady sure is keeping fit with all that hard physical labour. Good man! Hopefully the finished product will be fantastic. Thanks for sharing everything. It's load of fun.
The camera work of the scenery was absolutely gorgeous. I love the walk through the village. It was nice to see where Stella is living now.
Brady, you are an amazing man! What a hard worker! So tenacious! And you cook, too! Little by little is a great motto! Can’t wait to see all that goes back into that floor. What a true labor of love.
You both deal with adversity and set backs with a smile! What an example to your girls and others as well. Thank you for sharing.
I enjoyed your walk on the trail Heather, seeing some of the surrounding area. It made a nice change. So much hard work being done in the room, i love the outdoor kitchen😍
For garlic, my experience is that they enjoy a good but drained soil otherwise the bulb will rot easily... So mixing clay on the bottom and "good- but heavy - soil on the top is probably not ideal, as the clay will retain the water and the good soil will stay humid for long.
My advice: in the bottom put a layer of thinly crushed stones or sand, mixed with a liiitle bit of good soil. then a layer of your clay/rocky soil, then top layer of good soil but still mixed with sand. (so with rain the sand will finally permeate where it needs all to go, besides sand/thinly crushed stones is way cheaper)
Nothing more honest than a person using a shovel. Keeps you strong and purposeful.
Keep up the good work. Looking good. All the best from Winnipeg MB Canada.
Grazie ragazzi. Guardando con quale amore e dedizione state facendo il lavoro di recupero di questa vecchia casa, riempie il cuore di gioia.
La pietra ha sempre richiesto dedizione e impegno per essere lavorata e mi piace molto vedere che volete fare le cose da soli per essere certi.di farle al meglio.
Vi seguo sempre volentieri e faccio il tifo per voi perché tutto possa un giorno tornare a nuova vita. Un abbraccio . Giusi
❤️☺️
So very impressed. You both work so hard….both physically and also the work (filming and editing) that is done to allow us to follow you on your journey.
And have a chance to giggle and laugh with your children facing risks as u are deéply into the serious work keeping lighthearted !
These videos will be such a great family record of all that you have done for your home. I cannot believe the amount of work! I don’t know if we could have devoted that much time and effort. I am so amazed. Love watching these moments every week ❤
Compost in place - I do this with my garden. I put vegetable and fruit peels in my garden boxes. I dig a ditch about 5" through middle of the longest side of the box. Then, I put some vegetable peels and/or coffee/tea grounds in the ditch, and cover the ditch with soil. Make sure there are a few earthworms in the box.
Nice to see a check-in with Stella - she's definitely in a better place that's safer for everyone. I'm 100% with you on over-building things. Peace of mind that costs very little overall.
Yay, I'm so glad I found an update on Stella! After seeing the video of her having strong emotions about something, I wondered what you would decide to do with her
Just an DIY tip ...... if you wrap your tie wire in duct tape and then pull it from the middle of the roll, it will not go all over the place and become a tangled mess.
We are learning from your projects. Thanks for sharing.
It’s just amazing the amount of work you are putting into rebuilding your home, and building your family’s future!! I know your home will be so beautiful when you get done. All of that work will pay off when you get done, and you will be able to step back and be so proud of what you have accomplished! ❤
Have you husband build you a soil sifter. It’s a wooden frame with chicken wire. Size it to fit on top of your wheelbarrow.
You can sift your crummy soil to get out the stones and roots. Add some Compidt, Bone Meal and Gypsum. The gypsum will help break down the clay.
You can add the gypsum to your existing vegetable beds as well. It’s usually the cheapest at a Feed Store.
In Fall, take the leaves of deciduous trees, put them in a bin and stick your weed wacker in to shred them. Work into your vegetable beds and add Bone Meal to help brake down the leaves over winter. Add gypsum and Earth Worm Castings.
You will have much better soil next season.
I only did this application one year and now have earth worms in the soil.
Keep the small rocks you sift out if the crummy soil. You can use them as gravel between your vegetable beds.
I miss Stella but glad she has companionship, you all have been working so tremendously hard but the end result will look amazing.God Bless
You might want to become one of the youtubers who keep old engine oil - you can use it on boards to stop the cement sticking, on old tools when you store them to stop them rusting, on the inside of a wheel barrow you've used to mix cement in, as a wood preserve on your pallet built shed, all sorts. It makes you wonder why some people throw it away. Nice video & good luck with the next one.
I really like this channel. This man can do some heavy work. Inspiring.
Hard to believe that a single human being is doing that work of a digger… I admire your patience! Obviously trained by your parents with your basement project. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Tenacious stick-to-it-ivness ...and just plain determined! Brady in one word ...stalwart!
I know it's a LOT of very hard work BUT keeping and protecting throughout construction, the fire place is ABSOLUTELY the right choice. Well done doing the RIGHT thing is often the hardest thing to do!
You guys were so brave to take on this project and have worked so hard. It will be such satisfaction to begin to see progress in the builing back starting soon. I am so anxious for you to have easier work and be able to feel your accomplishing your goals. I admire you and love watching your little family accomplishing your dreams and goals!! It is going to to be outstanding once your finished, Take care and blessing to you all. Admiring your courage and determination.
Another great video. The views are breath taking. Your perseverance is a great teacher for your girls.
Incredible work! The views from your property might be the most beautiful I have ever seen. Your filming and editing is outstanding! Thank you!
Yayy!!! I was waiting for a new video. Very impressed with how far you’ve come and so grateful to be on this journey along with you. Can I just mention also how great the editing is? The whole video was put together so well. Thank you for putting in the effort to do that for us. 💕
And as we also reside in Europe, we find we can feel much more safe at night, going to sleep with a fire going in the fireplace , as we got a small Stanley Wood / turf stove, and 1 small bag of turf or wood, and it heats our 4 bedroom home all day and all night long! Seriously, with a stone home, as we nearly all have, please consider it as it’s a great way of keeping your Home lovely and warm…and Safe !
Love your content! Well done!
Friends in Ireland
You are making incredible progress on your restoration. The Little Passports programme looks very educational and fun for the girls!!! 🤗💖💖💖👏👏👏🎶🎶🎶❤️❤️❤️😎🇨🇦
I love the tranquil style of editing this video.
Such a huge undertaking, but you have done so much. When it's finished it will look amazing. Good news that you still see Stella and that she's loving her new life. If you plant an herb garden you might want to do it in terracotta pots, that way the water can drain and unlike wood that can rot from water it will last longer
Love following your family’s journey.
My name is Roberta, I discovered you a month ago, you are a beautiful family and we are not so far. I'm from Crema.
You are working so hard. I admire your grit. This place is so peaceful. If I were 40 years younger,I would do this. God bless you.
Thank you for sharing your journey with us. You have the most magnificent views from your mountain. Brady is such a hard worker and climbs up the mountain like it is no effort for him. I love watching the girls working with their dad. I did that and I have the best memories of times spent mixing concrete or fishing. Just doing something with my dad. Love to you both and the girls.
When my two oldest boys were little, I signed them up for a monthly "World Explorer's Club" that was similar to the one you get for your girls. There still are a couple of trinkets that came from these "lessons" around my house. We did not have the ability to do much actual traveling, but there are other ways to teach your children about this world and its people. Kids love to learn. We just need to do the best we can to keep that love alive. I used cooking to teach the boys about where some of the spices come from like cinnamon and vanilla and also taught them their fractions while we followed the recipes. Fractions are so much more fun when they come out as cookies at the end. I also love how your children get to work alongside you both. I have fond memories of working outside in the garden with dad, and inside the home cooking or sewing with mom.
I'm in Court House. I love watching every week! Since there is so many Biblical sites in Italy, I can't help but wonder what your property was like 2000 years ago. Rome seemed to be everywhere. It would be cool to find something buried in your property. I love talking to Andrea and Lisa about you guys!
This job you’re doing isn’t easy, but you’re almost there; don’t give up ‘cause the result will be worth the effort🍀
As a geologist who loves rocks I don't envy you all the rock you're dealing with. (I do look forward eventually to future projects.) But it's going to be gorgeous!!
rosemary and sage are 2 good choices for that dish. Next time you may want to add a small branch of rosemary instead of the leaves, that way you can remove them at the end. The girls will probably prefer not to chew on the rosemary leaves. Marjoram is also a good addition.
You do such an amazing job. And yes, slowly, slowly is the only way to keep yourself from getting hurt. Baby steps will still get you there.
The classic Italian fried potatoes are cut in very thin slices and fried raw in olive oil with salt and rosemary. But I recommend to use a small leaf of rosemary (as the one you took) while frying and then take it out, the aroma will be in the potatoes still. 🙂
Excellent progress! Was really happy to see video of Heather's walk - what an absolutely enchanting bit of nature!
Piano piano....
Chi va piano, va lontano! (He who goes slowly, goes far!)
your work inside the house is the same work of Martijn Doolaard channel youtube too. Very hard work. So admire what you are doing
Yes! I also watch him and his videos are very meditative ...yet the family joy and fun are also a great pivot when I need a "pick-me-up". They are temperamentally very different at least from the outside appearances. Yet their video skills and appreciation for nature and all its beauty is very similar! Some shots are breathtaking! ...for both! I don't know if Heather does all the video work ...but their videos & Martijns are movie quality ...even better if you ask me ... because the content is so REAL! ☺😊😇
My grandma always said “ Chi va piano va sano e lontano, chi va forte va alla morte “.
But she also always said “Chi ha tempo non aspetti tempo “. So go slowly, but without letting the time goes by. Great work by the way!
Are those ancient sayings? Does 'forte' mean loud also as it does when reading music?
Yes, these are very old sayings 😁 and “forte “ could means loud if associated with parlare (to talk) for example or other actions that create sounds.
Aww thank you so much for sharing this beautiful journey with us
Incredible how much work you've done (Piano Piano) slowly goes far ☺👍💪❤
Brady if you love rosemary as much as I do you might try a savory bread pudding. My favorite is Italian bread cubed and dried out for a day. A mix of whatever veggies you like. I like sun dried tomato in olive oil, Kalamata olives, red onion and marinated artichoke hearts. Toss veggies with bread and add herbs. I always use rosemary and whatever other fresh herbs look good. A good goat cheese is also a nice addition. Mix eggs and cream together. Enough to barely cover the bread, cheese and veggie mixture. I bake mine in a water bath. It is a wonderful meal especially served with fresh fruit. Leftovers are equally good. 🌻Darla
WOW! That sounds wonderful! I do something similar every Thanksgiving, but with the gluten-free cubed bread from health food stores. Rosemary and sage are in the mix, but I always add fresh herbs ...especially Rosemary ...not as strong as sage ...but one of the loveliest savory flavors with veggies, potatoes or chicken/turkey. Sun-dried tomatoes and Kalamata olives always bring a zing & zest to any meal! And the better olive oils are just plain good for you & add flavor to soups, salads and almost any dish.
That fence is beautiful and the progress on the house is really coming along. Both of you are determind hard workers.
It was nice to see a pick of Stella, but I am glad she is gone. I didn’t want her to hurt those beautiful girls.❤ ❤ U guys.
Me too! ...girls are more important than goats ...and certainly more important than donkeys! But I thought it was a nice touch to show a donkey ...on Palm Sunday ...as that was Jesus' conveyance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday! 😉😇🙏
Seeing surrounding countryside provides context. What a treat.
Just use Diesel oil on the forms for the concrete. That's what I used for years doing stemwall constructed houses. Comes right off, and it used to be cheaper. FYI
Enjoying your journey.
In Texas it is common among ranchers and farmers to fill a hole with water, let it drain and then pour in quikcrete powder allowing the cement to set up using the surrounding moisture. Often used this way in post holes. You can add a small amount of water to the dry quikcrete in the post hole and then tamp to mix. Allowing it to set up as it absorbs the moisture. Makes life easier and men swear by it.
Lovely hike Heather. And thanks for checking in on Stella. Lots of hard work for you both. I can’t wait to see you realize your dream.
Good progress of digging so far. I have no doubt this place will look like heaven once it’s all ready. Oh an d year hanging pots of herbs by d kitchen will b good
Brady compliments! very very great work!!! A big huge from Turin...😘
Totally underestimated your ability to tackle this renovation. Glad to see and hear that you know some things and find out answers to how to do some other tasks. Impressed. Take care and subscribed to your channel.
I love the videos for many reasons. But at this time I want to compliment you on the making of the videos. Making videos is a talent and art. Your videos are very professional and enjoyable for all of us in the world. Thank you.
Mind blowing and back breaking work! Impressive the way you managed underpinning the fireplace.
There is a man that I follow, that is renovating a couple of stone buildings, in the Italian Alps, like you. Martijn Doolaard, is his sight. You might want to check him out, if you haven't done so. already. What he is doing seems to be very similar to what you are doing. I just watched his latest video, and he was pouring cement in the floor, of one building. Anyway, you are doing amazing!
Heather, the two types of soil need to be mixed instead of layering them, unfortunately it does matter but wont take long to redo it, you'll be happy you did, it's all about the right combination. You're doing a beautiful job!! Thanks for sharing!! 😊
That's quite a job you've done Brady! Hats off to you on all your hard work and never giving up! It's going to be a marvellous home for you all once complete. The outlook alone is so soothing to the soul and what a place for the girls to call home. I also truly loved walking alongside Heather on her way to the house. I love walking on trails from my village as well and used to love doing the same in France, when I lived there. In Tuscany, where I live now, we have endless olive groves, vineyards and sunflower fields...all very beautiful to wander through as well as the chestnut forests up behind the village. I can understand your reasons for your efforts...so worthwhile! 🥰🤗💚🌳🏞🌞
Found your channel a few weeks ago and subbed immediately. Rescuing old houses in a culture where "rip it apart, build new" seems to be the norm is so important, I think! Thanx for taking us along the process. Have to watch your "old" videos to find out how that adventure started!!
To make the soil for the garlic and the other garden beds better you could sprinkle a little bit of goat or sheep manure (don't use "hot" manure like horse or cow manure - that should be composted before using, because it would "burn" your plants up) on the soil and mulch around the plants with leaves, straw, hay, cut grass, wood chips etc. Just make sure, if you use straw or hay, that NO pestizides or herbizides where used growing that stuff, otherwise it could seriously kill your plants. But maybe collecting leaves from the woods around your place is allready enough for the size of those beds. Might be a nice project for the girls. Mulch helps to put organic matter back into the soil (worms will do that work for you) and that will make water retention better and the mulch will also keep the soil cooler and safe it from eroding.
You’re teaching me things. I was worried the fireplace would crash down on you but watching you go in sections made so much more sense.
Yes! I hope he now underpins the opposite ends of each of those big stones (where they meet) next ...so that each stone will be held up by columns essentially on both sides (like Stonehenge! 😉😊😆)
@@kindlydude Yes I was think the same thing.
What a beautiful video, the spring is there and it shows everywhere. What a pleasure it is to the soul to see this video. Keep the hard work going!
Oh yes! Nature is a salve for the soul!!
Your place seems so very peaceful.
Take in time to just take it all in and relax when you can. Maybe you could get or make a couples swing to sit and enjoy the view. Best of luck with your work at your place.
So very interesting to watch. Never knew what underpinning was. So admire what you are doing
😮 Looks like the most physically draining job i've ever seen on a building. God-bless you guys for your perseverance.
It would be so great to see more day in the life vlogs, like what’s it like actually living there, where do u guys shop or go out and so on. I’m so excited to see what’s to come!
Lovely video guys. Keep up the hard work and it’s will come good for sure! Loved the views over looking the house from above, thanks for sharing. 👍👍
Thanks for the encouragement ❤️
I'm so impressed with your work! I live in France and we don't have such strict laws. I think I would have given up having to dig out the floors like that😱😱😱 Your courage is inspiring. What a great life for your family!
Loved the hike to your house...and the sound of those church bells!
I came across your videos at 4 am and have not stopped watching for a few hours when I get ready for bed. You both made an excellent decision choosing Italy! I think you made a great decision and are both brave and determined people- you have a wonderful life ahead of you. Your children are so creative, what a great new life. Thank you for sharing snd reminding us to slow down and live life!
You have both captured the GLORIOUS cacophony of the awakening earth in springtime in the Italian Alps so well, ...with joyful sweet birdsong choruses announcing Spring's arrival ...and it makes my heart glad, 💗🕊🐦🥀🌻🌷💗(though I am only experiencing it via your vlogs). It mirrors the lovely springtime here in the States in the southwest ...Oklahoma to be exact. Just out my now cracked windows and doors I can hear the beautiful birds singing God's praises on this Palm Sunday. 🌴🙏🐦YAY! for spring here in America and more southerly Europe, and many parts of the Northern Hemisphere around the word! 🌎You both seem to exude a kind of peace and contentment about you and are well on your way to achieving your goals ...while raising lovely, gracious and kind ...& funny daughters full of the adventurous spirit they inherited from you. 😊😘👏 Ah! to be young again! Your walk was sooooo exhilarating, yet meditative & lovely Heather, with the grassy and mossy paths and ancient village stairways , and trickling, tinkling brooks, streams and little waterfalls. Nature's music is indeed a salve for the soul! Thank you Brady and Heather both, for taking us along on this voyage of discovery! 🏔🌄🏰⛲
~Tara (wife of Kindlydude)
I really enjoyed you video portion of the hike to the stone house. It gage us a chance to see more of the village and surrounding area. I would love to see more of that.
Brad you have worked like a trooper and stopping to cook lunch I admire you still such alot of work ahead but its going to be so worth it x
very wonderful walking video,do this more and more! trees,sreams,bridges!
You are so talented and adventurous!
Try mixing the soil together. We live in New Mexico and my mom prepared the ground this way. It worked but I’m not sure the amount to each other. I think it was 1/2 and 1/2.
Hi Brady, its Steve from Brambletye, just watched your latest vlog. It may be an idea to think about using the igloo we did use this method, it saves a bunch on cement and gives you a ventilated barrier between your floor and the ground so feels warmer and less damp, a seismic ring around the room will surfice using 12mm or preferably 16mm rebar boxes. Our house has been transformed by using this method although normally reserved for commercial properties, it will save cost on cement aswell. If you want any pictures i have all our house pics and its a similar shape and depth to your own. Bravo for hand digging I used a digger ...Ah i just have seen you mentioned the igloo system on the vlog, anyway if you are interested just let me know all the best to the family. Steve Lynn^ Button
Have you watched Martijn Doolaard? He is doing exactly the same as you are doing right now, and he put up bracing to support his wall as he is digging down.
I was going to suggest the same. Imagine they would have a lot to discuss! 😊
Your videos are awesome the progress is amazing. You are so hard working. Gives me joy to share your progress…great work on the fire place.❤️🇨🇦
Amazing, nice video.
Yes your walk was beautiful Heather! And it good soil does matter very much! Just like eating healthy food matters to humans. You can put pebbles in the bottom of pots and planter boxes to give good drainage, but clay soil has terrible drainage. Vegetables need good soil and good drainage. And compost tea to feed them.
You can make your own good potting soil… google Mel’s Mix potting soil for the recipe …
That IS a beautiful walk in nature, Heather and Brady, you are a hard working man!
Hello 👋 how are you doing today?
Michigan!! That is way I like this channel so much ! You guys are doing awesome job !
Need patience and family support to do this type of work. You have both. All the best
It's got to be said....that man is a Saint, so much work, he'll get there 😊
What a beautiful walk to take every morning!
A job well done! That fireplace won't be going anywhere!
😁😉😆👏👍
Someday when you don’t want to make the hike to the stone house .....take us to the village where the church is !! (your editing is amazing !)
Great Work!! In some places "overkill" is just right. It is inspiring to see what 2 people can really DO when they put their minds to it. I learn something new with every video.
Hallo my friend and your family. I see al the work that you and family makes and I love it , because you and family is a really familie in good and bad. I am an old mann in 72 ears old but my heart is young . thanks for this. best from Jens in Denmark
Fantastic to follow your progress. Lovely family…I learn so much seeing your construction activities. I recently learned about how to burn a ‘top down’ fire. Works outdoor and indoor. Lots of descriptions on TH-cam. Principle is that burn starts on top of your wood stack & burns the smock/fumes . I use it in my slow combustion wood heater, it reduces smock & needs less tending when going. Good luck.
I had pure clay soil, I changed it to good garden soil by using wood chips that I had used as bedding for the chickens. I used the deep bedding method, 12" of woo chips for 6 months and the then changed it out twice a year. I put it into the garden and mixed it in. In 2 years, I could stick my hand in without a tool almost to my elbow. On my last harvest in November from 4 tomato plants, I picked about 25 lbs of of green tomatos. I hope this helped. I used to work for the Botanical Garden of Chicago.
Amazing how much work you have done.
OMG... Brady you cook also oh my God you work like a dog and you take a break to cook and you look so professional I am so impressed where did Heather find you she got herself a gem❤
Well done!! Beautiful hike!! See you next week!! 🤗
Thanks for showing Stella’s new home. Also you both have such incredible knowledge and I’ve learned so much.
I would love to see you guys speak Italian Including the girls. Maybe teach us a few words or sentences❤
I have a possible suggestion for your water under the foundation problem. In the United States they make some very small portable well drilling equipment that uses 1 and 1/2 or 2-in piping.
Dig out maybe about a meter behind the house to give you enough room to use the small well drilling equipment and sink several pipes behind the house spaced apart and then put inexpensive wall pumps in each of the pipes. So when it rains and water accumulates inside the pipe area the well pumps will activate and remove the water from behind the foundation and pump it to the side of the house or into a cistern before you to use in the garden or for other purposes.
It's just a suggestion and it might be costly so you'll have to weigh the benefit versus cost.