Welcome to my usual monthly off grid homestead update from Central Portugal!
November was a little less successful than hoped, but I still had an amazing month filled with lots of interesting and fun things. December is shaping up to be another ambitious month with a focus on building and trying to cram in as many outdoor tasks as I can before it gets really cold… some fun times ahead!
I hope you enjoy this little update video! Thanks for watching and I’ll see you tomorrow for my usual weekly video and Saturday for a little bonus second part. Please do say hello in the comments, I love hearing from people! 😁
If you enjoy my content and want to make a contribution to my project you can use the ‘Super Thanks’ above, or my Paypal address is * travoholic@yahoo.com *. These contributions really go a long way and I really appreciate it!
*Super Thanks and Paypal Contributors from November – Pamela, Sarah, Di, Then, Deborah, Vicky, Justin, Heather, Darren, and Anthony – Thanks All!!*
47 Comments
“I am really wimpy when it comes to cold”says the woman from Canada!
I look forward to your videos, stay warm.
You are becoming more and more Portuguese if that feels "cold" to you, sister. 😁😂🤣
Great progress. Some girls can have their pearls, this girl (me include) prefers power tools. 🤓. Sent you some PayPal. ~Tina
Sorry girl but Morocco just bet Canada 2-1 😂 only kidding keep up the good work 👍🙏
ive been looking at those diesel heaters they put in campervans and on the low setting was amazed to learn that a litre of fuel lasts over 7 hours..thats not bad but you can also use them to heat water too so you would have heat and water.the heaters are less than £150 and the como heater/boiler is around £250..that would work out at around £10 per week for heat and water..so depending how much you pay for gas and the wood it may be cheaper to go chinese heater and boiler…remember too you can get a solar dump that diverts excess solar to a boiler..like a trickle charge..then another thing you can use is a solar heater that sits on a wall facing the sun,there are youtube videos on how to make them.that will give you more content and people really get into it..solar is one of the biggest subjects on youtube along with lithium batteries..you have everything there to make things work but the log fire is a nice addition.
An idea to help with Portuguese learning is if you can listen to a podcast or talking radio station whilst you work it will all help. I used to live in France and picked up so many phrases and idioms that way. Good luck!
You have had a good chili harvest over these past few months! GOOD LUCK with your TO DO lists👌
So glad you have a double walled insulated flu
They are expensive but well worth the money we have one and I’m so glad we did as we had a chimney fire and if we hadn’t had one the fireman said our house would have caught fire
Thank you for sharing 😁
Please don't pressure yourself as you say no rush, just love watching.keep up the good work 👍
To make yourself motivated to learn Portuguese, dedicate a set time daily.. even if only 15 minutes! When drinking your coffee or something… I do Duo lingo in Spanish! It has to be part of your daily routine! Good luck!
Take heart, you did the most important things – cleaning that vent is a life saver and taking time for the mushrooms is why you're in Portugal in the first place. Your priorities are on point. Love your videos.
You can lear portuguese with DUOLINGO on your cellphone. I'm portuguese and I'm learning English like that 😉
Life is too short to spend all your time working to schedules. Just go with the flow. You do a better job when not under pressure.
Lists are just guides. The whole point of this lifestyle is to stress less, so do that. Walk more, smile more and keep chugging along. I love your videos and your ability to tackle what you can. We beat our self’s for everything.
Couple good vids on how to build a foldable sawbuck for firewood on youtube
You also moved your water storage bin! And mushrooming is obviously important.
I've seen on other Portuguese channels that pine cones make good tinder if there are any places on your walks that you can collect them.
Hi i have heard that pinecones and olive branches are good for starting fire's greetings from South Africa 🐈🌶🌹
I can't believe how fast November flew past! The mushroom content is great 👍
It’s mom. Would appreciate you weeding. Remember I’ll be coming in May. Love helping you weed but there is a limit 😆
Are we at the to do list already? Seems to have come around too soon. No wonder you didn't get to everything. Good luck with December's tasks.
I agree with Ruth whole heartedly.
Please do the Amazon Wish list well before Christmas. It's so much fun to play Santa send stuff that people need or even just want. BTW I've heard that with the Amazon wish list you won't know who sends what. I think that's a plus. Secret Santa!
Here the forecast for this weekend is 80F. I am considering installing a wood burner but realistically I'll only ever use it 2 months out of the year. On the other hand if/when the grid goes down when it's really cold, like last year, I won't notice. I'm leaning towards gifts and eggnog and delay a decision until next year. Sometimes indecision is a decision.
You did alot! You also need to enjoy your life! Forgive yourself and focus on being able to stay warm this winter! Those jobs have to get done before the coldest part of winter comes! Sounds like you have already identified those projects? Firewood, new improved flu for your woodstove! More work on front door?
Yay!! So glad you got the double walled stove pipe! Hope it does the trick. And I love my battery powered chainsaw… so much lighter, quieter and easier all around. I'm sorry to say, however, that I still am not very good at sharpening the chain… hope you do better! My birthday is conveniently at the beginning of the summer, which is building season for us, so I always get some cool new tool 😎
My brother teaches English language and has learnt a few others, he says find 15 minutes a day to build proficiency.
Thanks
Great progress, another great video 🎉
Hi Laura why don't you work on your window to get some light in your house
I am sure the mushroom exploration was interesting and fun. Like you said there is a lot to learn but you have things to do!! Once you get your major jobs done you can go back to the hunting of the shroom!
Hugs from 🇨🇦
Good job. I enjoy whatever u show us. But am somewhat curious abt what you have planned for the flappy window for winter 😊. All the best.
❤
Cheers! Yours is a good journey.
Hi Kirsty, Lists are good for keeping us focused but your not a failure because you didn't complete it but it's a triumph that you tried and you got in lots of walking and foraging for mushrooms. Lol yum yum! 😋 duolingo is a good start for Portuguese and can be free just download app in your play store. You have to start somewhere right! Lol boa noite Kirsty. XxKathleen from Greenock Scotland
Is the cat a permanent resident with you now? I thought you were just cat-sitting for a friend. He is a sweet little guy.
life is not a sprint it is more like a marathon …🙂
Make sure you wear a hard hat with a visor minimum, just incase you get kickbacks.
My god you are a busy woman. Always a project!
Love your channel. I've been looking at my lists too realising my move date is closer than i thought 😂 so this check process is worthwhile
Oh please do a chainsaw sharpening video when that happens 😊
Even though you haven't completed November list, you have had quality time, mindful well-being, important to one's mental and physical health. As one subscriber suggested a set time to learn Portuguese, little and often.
All in all some good jobs completed. 💚
Nice flue. Congrats. Cold wind but sun is shining. In Germany is cold and foggy🫣
Perhaps top of each month's list should be "Enjoy my month!" Check? Well, good job with the single most important lifestyle task accomplished. Also, try to avoid buying eucalyptus. Yes, it burns well, but it encourages eucalyptus forestry which is NOT native and is a major contributor to the summer fire hazard. As for soft wood fire starters, I try to beg for, find or salvage old used pallets which are in too bad a state to be sold for carpentry projects… usually manage to pick up a significant amount… but that might also be dependent upon your time dedicated to learning Portuguese!!! 😉🤣
Thanks
I am using a free app to learn Portuguese unusually it is European Portuguese as opposed to Brazillian Portuguese. It is called Memrise and is completely free. I'm getting on really well with it.
Have a wonderful December.
I enjoy your monthly updates as it shows how much you completed and also what you got stuck completing. It helps us understand how many tasks are dependent on other people doing their part. The black cat is so cute, glad to see he is happy staying with you. And I admit, I am a huge fan of your parents! The chainsaw looks like a perfect size for you to use safely.
Yes!!!! Tadelakt is THE BEST! Super eco- a lot of work- but looks and feels AMAZING! It will be perfect at your place! Can’t wait to see it!