Central Portugal House Tour - What have we been up to?! Then and now! Husband and Wife Renovation!

This week I will give you a tour of our house in Central Portugal. What work have we completed in a year and since we bought the house four and a half years ago?!
Check out the video from a year ago here:
• Portugal MUSE - House ...
This is a link to the paint I used:
www.leroymerli...
This is a link to the artist I mentioned:
www.instagram....
If you'd like to stay at Todd's Airbnb this is the link to the booking platform:
www.booking.co...
Hope you enjoy (and it wasn't too long winded 😅!)
Don't forget to like, comment and subscribe!
Thanks 🙏🏼

[@joanbroadway759]

Do you think the dogs would enjoy a little toddler pool? You could set it up near the veggie patch. Then when the water needs to be changed, you could water the veggie patch with it.

[@davejohnson4099]

I've been looking for a hard plastic one but haven't found one here yet. Anything less would be destroyed in minutes. I'll probably end up building them a concrete one.

[@portugalmuse8430]

😅 Yes, it would get destroyed 🤣 Xxx

[@portugalmuse8430]

Gruff loves swimming! I'll have to do a video of him when we take him to the river, he swims like an otter 😅

[@denisehayes195]

The house and garden are coming on leaps and bounds💫 the weed looks like oxalis, we buy them from the garden centre here😂 put cardboard down this should stop them reproducing. If you drink coffee put the grounds around the hydrangeas,magnolias and camillias it acidifys the soil don’t use tap water on them. The weather in Wales has been appalling so you haven’t missed anything, so happy about the election❤️

[@portugalmuse8430]

Hi 👋🏼! Thanks for all this fantastic advice 🤩 I'm going to use cardboard 🤞🏼👍🏼 I've heard the weathers been very wet! More rain than usual! Yes, what a relief Labour got in ❤️❤️❤️

[@gracemeneses9910]

❤wow you both should give yourselves the credit you deserve, you have done a wonderful job. You have turned a place to a real cozy home 🏠. Lots of love from extremely hot 🥵 sunny Florida.

[@portugalmuse8430]

Amazing 🤩 I have family that live in Florida! I haven't seen them since I was 7 years old. They are on my dad's side! It must be boiling there 🌞🙌🏼!!! They've got a pool. I'm guessing it's compulsory right?! Thanks for being soo nice 👍🏼 Xxx

[@owenp65]

A lovely update on the house and garden Awen. About your Carrots, I think you know by now but they are always best sown directly into the ground. They do take a while to germinate so be sure to mark where your rows are. I know its probably too late now, but the carrots you have in the square pots if you plant them as they are in a bunch they might be ok, especially so if the roots haven't shown at the bottom of the pots yet. Have a think about multisowing your plants. Charles Dowding gives really good examples of multisowing your veg for increased harvest in less space, works even if you don't follow the NoDig method. 👍🏼 Your climate is just so wonderful for growing. Your doing so great at the growing as well, keep it up. All the best guys. 👍🏼😉

[@portugalmuse8430]

Thanks for this 🙏🏼 I'm going to check out Charles Dowding. I've heard them mention him on Make Do Grow. It's my favourite KZbin channel here. They are really nice people and very good at gardening and sharing information. I watch Huw Richards from Anglesey on KZbin as well. He's very popular. I think the weather really threw me this year. It's been really changeable. Do you think it's too late to put more carrots in the ground? Obviously the climate is different here. We are really really hot Summer here now.

[@susangranger3089]

Great Video, all coming along Beautifully. 🐕❤🦮❤️🐕‍🦺 ❤ xx

[@portugalmuse8430]

Thanks soo much Susan 🙏🏼 It really makes a difference getting encouragement on here 🤩 Xxx

[@cdh2328]

I wondered where you’d got to. I’ve checked a few times for your videos but hadn’t seen any. The last one I saw you were starting seeds.

[@portugalmuse8430]

I know! We had a really rubbish and difficult year for several reasons 😞!!! I'm sure I'll explain at some point but it was a time to get our heads down and soldier on and it wouldn't be something we wanted to put on KZbin. We had baggage left over from how badly we were treated in the UK which is the main reason we came here. But that's all in the past now and we want to forget about it and move on 🤞🏼 Xx

[@JoanHarrex]

The oxalic is a weed here in nz you have to get the bulb out of the ground and destroy keep at them or bulbs will multiple

[@portugalmuse8430]

I thought they were multiplying!!! What a nightmare 😅 They are really pretty but I'm guessing it's like any weed they take the nutrients you want for the veggies so they are going to have to go 👌🏼 I will keep fighting them 😁 Xx

[@wendybishop2421]

Awww I think you’ve done marvellous considering what time you have and resources.You are living your life and appreciate each day,everything else is a bonus.I much prefer journeys like yours as opposed to quick renovations with loads of money.I would love to see some of your cooking recipes,used to really enjoy them. I don’t know about that weed but have you considered a thick mulch,it would retain moisture and help with weed control? ❤

[@portugalmuse8430]

Thanks Wendy 🙏🏼 I really appreciate this ❤️ I will give mulching a go. I had put bark down initially but it's disbursed now. I'm going to give cardboard a go as it eventually disappears but helps in the mean time to get rid of weeds (and it's free 😊!) Xxx I'll do some more recipes soon. I did fish and chips the other night which is something you can't get here in the same way as you get it in the UK. I think it did actually originated from Portugal 😅 but not as we know it. I filmed it, I tasted amazing but it didn't look that good 🫣🤣! So I wasn't sure if I should share it or not! I'll have a think Xx

[@owenp65]

Have a look at a few vids off CD and see what you think. What i would say is when he says "compost" just think 'mulch'... which could be anything. Rotted down manure would be perfect t and if you have the space get a few compost bays of your own on the go. You can just about still sow carrots over here so I think you'd be fine for most things over in Pt. You can plant quite a few things in the ground to grow overwinter as well Broad beans, onions of all sorts, spinach, leeks and don't forget garlick. 👍🏼

[@portugalmuse8430]

Thanks soo much for this 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 I'll definitely have a go and document my progress on the vlog 🤞🏼👩🏼‍🌾🥕Xx

[@arjanvogel6444]

Thanks for your vid 😇💟💟💟 Love and bless you guys, I think the ground in the veggies garden gets to hard from the sun and then the roots can not grow ground does not like to be bare maybe wood dust or what you pull out leave it around the roots so the ground stais moisture and shade cloth also works very good when it's hot.

[@arjanvogel6444]

Maybe look by, nearby veggies, they are also in Portugal they have a wonderful veggies garden and green fingers 😋

[@portugalmuse8430]

I watch a lot of the other KZbin channels. I was watching Make Do Grow and they said carrots are difficult to grow. Apparently they are meant to be sewn in the ground and not in pots! Will try again (3rd times a charm ☺️😅!) Thanks for commenting Xx

[@portugalmuse8430]

I'm going to try mulching. Didn't know what that was until I googled it 🧐! Now I know 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@mariajoseguerreiro9119]

Well done. Love it. So sorry i can not help you with your veggie garden. I live in a flat. Thank you so much for sharing. Enjoy your week. Take care.❤❤

[@portugalmuse8430]

Hi Maria 👋🏼 I hope you are well ❤️ I've received soo much helpful advice on here in the comments. I'm pretty sure I've got all the info now I need to make some more progress. I love KZbin for that. It's a fantastic place to share knowledge 👍🏼Thanks for your continued support 🙏🏼 We really appreciate it 🇵🇹❤️Xxx

[@justoneacre7873]

You two have done so much work, well done!

[@portugalmuse8430]

Oh 😊! Thank you 🙏🏼 It's nice to hear Xxx

[@mafish7962]

It’s lovely to see you and catch up with all of your progress! Laura ❤❤❤

[@portugalmuse8430]

Hi Laura! Thanks soo much for supporting us 🙏🏼 we really appreciate it 💞 Xxx

[@lesleywebb9615]

You have achieved so much in the past year.Well done! Have you thought about growing runner beans? Your climate should suit them. They are grown up wigwams or rows of bamboo canes and have lovely red (or sometimes white) flowers. They usually crop heavily and any surplus makes an excellent green bean chutney. Please keep the videos coming ❤

[@portugalmuse8430]

Awesome 🤩! Thank you Lesley 🙏🏼 really appreciate it. I'll have a look for them the next time at Lidl or the garden centre 👍🏼🤞🏼👍🏼 Xxx

[@katefinnegan8129]

I am having a big problem with that clover in my garden this year as well. It’s a mess. Doesn’t matter if I use lots of mulch or dig it out by the roots, it is taking over my garden. I’m very frustrated. Very hot here as well. We are in the high 90’s with extreme humidity. Your home and garden are looking fabulous.

[@portugalmuse8430]

Oh 😍! Thanks soo much 🙏🏼!!! Really appreciate that 😌 Where abouts are you? I'm getting some good advice in the comments. I'm going to try cardboard 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

[@elainekaufman2264]

89 here in ohio. Very humid too

[@portugalmuse8430]

Snap! It was on the day I did the video we're back down to 26°C (79 °F) today. It's just nice 👌🏼 Can't complain 😊 Xxx

[@roasarioruiz7804]

Hydrangea bush needs lots of water to grow.

[@davejohnson4099]

The ones over the road have never been watered as it's an empty house and they're huge. I water ours all the time.

[@portugalmuse8430]

I heard that about them 👍🏼

[@MrSHG66]

The plant in your veg patch looks like a species of wood sorrel (Oxalis), which you'll need to pull or hoe out regularly, making sure you get the basal bulblet. The white pea you asked about might be a vetch (Vicia), although it could just as easily be a Lathyrus. As to why your carrots didn't do well - did you sow them straight into the ground or transplant them from pots? Carrots don't like their tap roots disturbed once established so if you did transplant them that might explain why they failed to deliver. 🥕🍀

[@portugalmuse8430]

Wow 🤩! Amazing ☺️! Thank you 🙏🏼 I have a plan now for the Oxalis. I'm going to try mulching with a layer of cardboard 🤞🏼. The white pea, you can eat the flower but the pods are poisonous so I might not eat them 😅! Dave did say that carrots don't like being disturbed. I'm thinking the seedlings I've got ready won't work either then 🧐 I'll start again putting the seeds straight into the soil there 👌🏼👍🏼 Thanks soo much h for this 🙏🏼 love it 😍 Xxx

[@1MartinWaite]

29:23 they are ever lasting sweet peas the peas and pod are poisonous please don’t eat them I’ve heard the flowers are nice to eat but I don’t think I’m going to eat any.😊😊😊😊

[@portugalmuse8430]

Good to know 😯!!! Risky business 😅 Thanks for letting me know 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@cdh2328]

There’s a small machine, comparatively speaking that grinds all the rubble to small bits and can be added to sand and concrete and reused. It would save a lot in dumping fees and it all can be broken down and reused.

[@davejohnson4099]

Hi, thanks for the suggestion. Tbh we couldn't afford to get the machine. Tools are expensive here. And I wouldn't have a use for the crushed rubble. It's only €9 a tonne to get rid of it and the council re-use it.

[@portugalmuse8430]

Hi 👋🏼 Thanks for the comment 🙏🏼 and for watching 👍🏼 Definitely something worth looking into if we keep renovating. I don't think this will be our last house as I'd like to eventually get a farm 'Quinta' ☺️ but for now we just try and tackle things in an affordable way. We don't have loads of money so do things little by little 👍🏼

[@suegriffiths8322]

Nice to see you posting regularly again Awen! Life just takes over when you get engulfed in working on the property doesn't it!! Didn't realise you were close to VN de P. I've been doing the new monthly market at the Bombeiros there - Neis i weld chi yna un diwrnod!? ;)

[@davejohnson4099]

Hi we're forty minutes from Vila Nove de Poiares. The Vila Nova referred to is a small village near us.

[@suegriffiths8322]

@@davejohnson4099 Aha! I did wonder 😁

[@portugalmuse8430]

Braf 😍! Thanks for commenting 🙏🏼 How are you finding it here? We live near Penela, Dave explained Xx

[@suegriffiths8322]

@@portugalmuse8430 loving it here, as much as I love North Wales; I've no intention of going back! 💕 Dont think ive ever worked so hard though! 😆 Do you feel settled too?

[@portugalmuse8430]

@@suegriffiths8322 same! It's the hardest we've ever worked! And we've both always worked really hard! They say it takes 3 years to settle somewhere new if you move to a different country, add two years of COVID on that and it's where we're at, 5 years! Yes, I feel more settled but I think I need to be fluent in Portuguese to feel completely at home, so I'm still working a lot on that. Getting more fluent all the time so it's looking good 👍🏼

[@arjanvogel6444]

Maybe make some birds houses they like your pests and make beautiful songs people like to look at that 💞

[@portugalmuse8430]

I love your idea 💡🐦! I will definitely do that! Love it 😍! Obrigada 🙏🏼🇵🇹❤️ Xxx

[@sammie44]

Hello Awen and Dave New subscriber here.😊 We’ve been watching your older videos and catching up with your Portugal life. 😆 Love your walks with the dogs through the forest. Wonderful job with the insulation on your roof and ceiling. Are you thinking of insulating the walls too? Having lived in N Portugal, we understand humidity, dripping walls and cold winters, all too well. 😬 Looking forward to your next videos. Best of luck with your renovations. Take care. Sam and Pedro 🇨🇦

[@portugalmuse8430]

Hi Sam and Pedro! Thanks soo much for supporting us 🙌🏼 we really appreciate it 🙏🏼💞! Dave thinks it's really important to insulate the walls as well. He's right, I'm just worried about the cost but long term it will be worth it and easier to keep nice 👌🏼 Cheers for commenting 🙏🏼 How did you find Northern Portugal? Thanks Xx

[@sammie44]

@@portugalmuse8430 you are very welcome. 🤗 Minho is beautiful .😍 But I’m based, 😂 my parents and husband are from there originally. I do however, feel Portugal is a beautiful country, from North to South; the land, people, culture, food. 😊

[@portugalmuse8430]

@@sammie44 the people are the BEST! 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼

[@elainekaufman2264]

Could be oxalis. False four leaf clover

[@portugalmuse8430]

That's what I've read in the comments 👍🏼

[@arjanvogel6444]

There's a app for the telephone to recognize plants and trees and there names and fruits 😉

[@portugalmuse8430]

Yes, just found it! I'm using Google lens. Seems to work ok 👍🏼

[@PedroMor75]

3 lief cloves, very good nitrogen fixers for the soil, check it out couse some farmers even plant them to improove the soile... :)

[@portugalmuse8430]

Wow 😲! Ok! That changes things a little. I was going to take them all out today and put cardboard down... I guess the best thing to do is look at how the vegetables are doing around them and if the tomatoes look happy and strong then I leave them. I think that's what I'll do👌🏼 Thanks for this 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 Really appreciate it 🇵🇹❤️🙌🏼 Xxx

[@marcellasimerly8233]

I want a SMEG. not yet. But what a blessing. Let us know what it’s like for daily use.

[@portugalmuse8430]

It's really nice! I like how it looks. I really like that 1950's aesthetic👌🏼Dave's been playing a lot of Fallout on the PlayStation and we watched the program they did for TV and I think it's soo cool 😎 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼 It's big as well. You can fit plenty in it 👍🏼

[@espiritodeliberdade]

You guys have done loads! Your place is looking lovely 👌 I used cardboard on my veggie bed too, I chuck all the weeds I've pulled out on top of it and they dry out really quickly. I am definitely more of a lazy gardener 😅 great to see you again, looking forward to the next video! 💚

[@portugalmuse8430]

Helen 👋🏼🙌🏼💓!!! Hello lovely 😍 Thanks soo much 🙏🏼 Yes! I'm going to use cardboard 👍🏼 That's the general consensus 👌🏼Your place here is gorgeous 🥰 Xxx

[@samanthabond9607]

Great video, what a transformation you are both incredibly hard workers all looks fabulous ❤

[@portugalmuse8430]

Thanks soo much 🙏🏼

[@nancybrowning3380]

looks great

[@portugalmuse8430]

Thanks 🙏🏼

[@miriammuskal5402]

WOW what a fabulous property

[@portugalmuse8430]

Thank you 🙏🏼😊 It's a special place 💞🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🇵🇹❤️ Xxx

[@kreshenahill5344]

Maybe mulch your veg beds. That will slow the rate of growth on weeds.

[@portugalmuse8430]

Thank you 🙏🏼 I'm going to have a go with cardboard. I've used wood chips in the past which were great and compost but it disperses over time, I'm thinking cardboard is free so will have a go putting a layer under the soil so it decomposes over time 🤞🏼

[@nancybrowning3380]

what about a murphy bed for the office, you can flip up when you want to use office and down when you have company.

[@portugalmuse8430]

That's a good idea 💡! I've also been looking at sofa beds and futons. We'll have to do whatever is cheapest as we don't have lots of money and are trying to save for when Josh is here so we can go and do nice things Xx

[@nancybrowning3380]

@@portugalmuse8430 kzbin.info_fFE23LDMqQ

[@nancybrowning3380]

@@portugalmuse8430 there a few video,s on youtube diy murphy bed and you don,t have to buy all the expensive hardware.

[@maregrobler1960]

I just find your YT channel and I am so glad start watching it. Maybe you can apply for teaching English online for children in Japan. You must held a TEFL certificate and you must have a four year college or university degree. Cindy Vine another YTuber in central Portugal do also online teaching but also travel a lot for teaching in other countries. Try to contact her and maybe she can help you. Granny South Africa

[@portugalmuse8430]

Hi Granny in South Africa! I love it when people get in touch from far away! It's amazing 😍! Thanks so much for commenting and supporting us we really appreciate it. I did my TEFL when I got here and tried teaching for the Chinese companies but the pay was very low and the work was not very good. You have to do a lot of work for free 😬 but maybe the Japanese companies are better🤞🏼 I've heard the online work for American schools are good 👍🏼 I'm going to keep looking. Thanks soo much for your help and I'm glad you liked the vlog Xxx

[@user-tv8fr9kj5p]

Save the gravel for on top,put the rubbish stones underneath to level your driveway out and not to have to drive it away and pay for it…?!

[@portugalmuse8430]

We tried that 😅! It's rock hard where we'd need to dig it up. Dave has a breaker

[@portugalmuse8430]

But it would also be a lot of work... Thanks for the idea 💡 tho. Keep them coming we really appreciate the help and advice we get here 😍 Xxx

[@portugal1969]

Cafe, drop a bombshell, Ur going to have to tell us wat happened, wether good or bad, could be useful for someone thinking about it

[@portugalmuse8430]

Hi! Yes, we had a cafe here for two years! This is a link... www.google.com/search?q=arom%C3%A1ticas+photos&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigAdIBCDU5NThqMGo3qAIPsAIB&client=ms-android-xiaomi-terr2-rso2&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8&chrome_dse_attribution=1&si=ACC90nzueTPWjakpeySRPwgyMivR09g8UVU4807xfzurOGTVBnuZP8AnXwIUxKodFOihoFrm_Qi6Smci4h3QGnf2nRN9VTkbL9B8WmVa09zXZirXcWbB124anTWD_bE4n6HabjD2M-68&ictx=1&ved=2ahUKEwjF3cauk5yHAxUFUaQEHdvyAMQQvsQGegQIHxAn#lpg=cid:CgIgAQ%3D%3D It was good and bad! We loved it and worked so hard to make it work but it just couldn't make enough profit to warrant both me and Dave working there full time. We tried everything; events, art classes, walking tours, mushroom walks, classes, live music, special offers, British, international and Portuguese food, I even catered for a wedding! But for every good day or event you'd get a string of really quiet days and you'd just go back to €0! It was hard but a good experience. Also tax was massive 🫣 👍🏼

[@carinep.4520]

Beautiful but your plum trees will not have enough space to grow…they get to be 10 meters high and at least 3 meters large. They will not produce a lot and the roots by the house could cause some issues.

[@portugalmuse8430]

Hi 👋🏼! Good to know 🙏🏼 I don't know where I'm going to put them! We'll have to try and get some more land 😅 They were also a gift! An old Portuguese couple knocked on our door the other day, they'd just been strimming the patch of land to the right of us. They offered to sell it to us for €500! I really want to get it, so we're saving up 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼 Xxx

[@brouwerification]

Why don’t you use the rubble for the roads?

[@portugalmuse8430]

Hi 👋🏼 Thanks for commenting 🙏🏼 Dave said the same thing initially. I tried to break up the rubble and the ground where the road is but both were too hard. I'd have to use a big breaker and then that would be loads of work as well 😅!!! So I'll take the rubble to the tip and put more brita down on the road where we park the cars. The rubble gets recycled so it's not too bad 🤞🏼 Xx