Daily Homestead Life & Working on the Off Grid Cabin

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Beijinos e abraços,
Carissa, Iwan, Frankie & Albi
Our Story:
We are Carissa, Iwan & Frankie the sausage dog, and in 2020 decided one night over a bottle of wine that moving from North Wales to Portugal would be a good idea. Within a month we were on the road to Portugal to find the perfect piece of land to call home. We picked up Albi, Joao and Simao the cats along the way, as well as Diogo the podengo and a flock of chickens.
Subscribe to follow our project as we turn an old stone barn into our home, and learn the ropes of looking after a piece of land to make an abundant garden and one day, our very own winery.

[@greenbird1615]

You have probably got enough suggestions for the blocks but here's mine: drill holes through them , glue them on top of eachother, varnish, cable through your creation, lamp fitting on top, if you have enough blocks you can make two original bedside lamps for your new cabin.

[@beverlywick7062]

We use metal ducts/culverts, dig a trough, place the metal duct/culvert in the trough and cover! Water can continue to drain and you can build your road!!

[@andrewmaiden3738]

Hi, Save yourself some future work! Punch the nails through the wood with a small punch and remove. Seal the back of the pallet wood and allow to dry. Nails will act with nearly all coatings and bleed, less obvious with darker stain. Paint the face edge of the wood, flat before fitting, hopefully between coating the back and the front the sealant will get into the vacant nail holes. You have a short term ready made shed to do this with the new pallet house. Don't forget 9if you haven't done it already) seal the bottom edges of the OSB wall cladding. Ahead of fitting the pallet house floor, invest in some bug/rodent stainless steel micro gauze to really seal up the floor,be extremely diligent on this and really ensure it is everywhere. Good luck and keep up the great episodes in your progress.

[@SusanZiegler]

I was thinking the same thing. It will not take long to punch those nails through, and the streaks of rust will last FOREVER if you don't.

[@knelson5442]

I love your longer episodes. I know they must take a lot of time editing but they’re really great.

[@RevGerryRM]

Where there are the holes on either side of the driveway, you need to put in a culvert so the car can get through and the water can flow too. 😊 If you leave the nails in, in time the rusty nails will bleed down your siding discoloring it.

[@SunraeSkatimunggr]

I appreciate how you use music sparingly in your videos. Your videos are always calming for me.

[@deborahlee8135]

Yes!

[@patriciabrown8301]

chickens will love that corn

[@FiuMcFadyen]

Thank you for the hour long wonderfully calming video …we appreciate the hard work and time gone into producing it …. ❤❤❤

[@rianakoen5782]

Iwan build yourself a workbench from pallet wood. It does not need to be pretty, just functional. It makes tasks so much easier

[@FrankieOffGrid]

good idea, I think we’ll add that to the project list 😊

[@minkgin3370]

My son has just built me a Potting Shed out of Pallets. Much cheaper than buying a Greenhouse.

[@hildavazquez1499]

Yes, do the one 2 or 3 x's then the plywood on top..or pallet..look up on you...good luck

[@Here_kitty_kitty1-wg9xd]

Diego’s stare post bee sting 😂 ❤️ poor baby - and that someone would drop him off at the side of the road. He has given us all such joy.

[@racebanning6390]

Ya He was not a Happy Dodo, poor guy.

[@ronguille9721]

Two saw horses and a waist high work bench made from pallets and scrap lumber will make projects so much easier. I'd cut off the pallet ends with the nails. They will eventually bleed rust even if you seal them with something.

[@FiuMcFadyen]

Carissa…..please don’t think it’s boring watching you both paint …it’s actually quite relaxing watching …sorry that you have to do the work 🌻🌻🌻

[@eldrinod]

The weak spots on your building will be the corners - you could do with lengths of upvc corner finishing to stop the edges opening up, allowing insects to get it and to stop weather getting in.

[@victoriakopp1483]

I think the stain is the prettiest. I like the grain of the wood showing. 😢 Diago poor baby, i just love him and sausage. Your cats are beautiful too.

[@SusanZiegler]

I agree, if you mean the first one Iwan applied. It could perhaps be a tad darker, but it coordinates beautifully with the base coat of the house. The third finish seems too purple and more garish than the usual Carissa & Iwan colors.

[@jamiesmith1343]

Stack the block under the driveway shed, around the edges, it will give some protection to the shed and keep them off the land. Use the blocks from the pallets as a walk way in your garden between the rows, or as legs on furniture to keep it off the floor. They also can be used to keep the pallets off of the ground ,the ones you're not using yet. I enjoy your videos, thank you for sharing your journey.

[@joelleurack8590]

All your pets are very happy around you I love watching ❤❤😊🇭🇲🇨🇵

[@Cathy-ty3fp]

Definitely dark varnish ❤

[@slowly_radish8374]

Children love quirky stories & need to learn that we're all different & that it's a good thing. Your drawing skills are a perfect complement & your little menagerie a perfect treasury of story material. Wishing you all the best. 👍👍

[@rosbeaton637]

No matter where or how one lives, it seems maintenance is the thief of time and energy😅 I agree, however, that getting it done is very satisfying. Diogo's face after the wasp sting was priceless. What a character, as are all your great animals. The colour choice for the cabin was inspired. It looks lovely❤

[@FiuMcFadyen]

Thank you for another beautiful and calming video …. I hope Joau stops fighting poor Simao …hope they resolve their territorial disputes soon 🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛

[@richardrynko]

I like the dark color best

[@LorraineinAustralia]

After the new cabin is finished with, it would make a nice workshop

[@rachelfrees1268]

I can just see Clarissa painting a scene of windows, window boxes full of red geraniums etc., on the side of the house. How charming that would be. Life size painting. Like the varnish look. We are loving September here in Texas. What a reprieve.❤

[@lapsedluddite3381]

Oh, that would be such a fun way to answer the many, many "aren't you going to have any windows" comments! (and also very pretty)

[@artlovermcg7564]

Popcorn is a special type of corn. Eating or sweet corn is not the same.

[@leeworley5160]

Stain that shows the wood. Then the mahogany color is my second choice.😊

[@suzieq2958]

Carissa, Cut the stakes in situ with the reciprocating saw. They're in so well, it would be a shame to pull them out 😃

[@dreamstarworld1]

#Time2MonetizeFrankie & his exploits with #BuryingSocks - "GENIUS"!!!

[@scummins2922]

I like the color you chose for the cabin. It is the same color we chose for our house 40 yrs. ago. The darker stain provides a nice contrasting feature wall. Remove nails; they will bleed down walls.

[@carolmcmillan1108]

You could use pallet wood to trim above the door of the cabin … would look good 😊

[@allenlaakso794]

The stain really is beautiful and I love your channel ❤😊

[@chriscardinal7007]

Great vids:) thankyou! Ps; build a bridge or large flat stone, any wasp or bee sting scrape with credit card to pull out stinger, poor baby ohhh his face! Then hiding his nose! Totally Adorable! All your fur babies are! 🥰🙂 Great job on clean up and painting. Keep it up guys! Love it!

[@deborahbasel184]

The Teak Oil is my favourite. It really brings out the grain in the wood

[@EileenBecher]

Was not sure about that color but you did great it is GORGEOUS with your landscape great job love u guys

[@FiuMcFadyen]

What a captivating start to the video ….with all your adorable animals so full of energy and fun …Albi is simply gorgeous ….she has such an expressive face. So so nice to see them …Albi Joau Simao Frankie and last but not least the flying kangaroo Diogo 🦘🦘

[@pennywabbit3684]

I love Diogo's listening ears I hope they feature in one of your childrens 📚 👂 😍

[@lindamoore691]

Great video ! Thank you for sharing ! 👏😀❤️ Cuddles to Diogo 💓

[@jimmyconnolly3461]

What a special treat we have been treated to this week. Loved every second of it. Well done guys.❤️🥂xxx

[@ritafoster4958]

Sending you a big hug, my sweet Jimmy! ❤️😘😎

[@jimmyconnolly3461]

@@ritafoster4958 back at you sweetheart ❤️🥂xxx

[@ChristineKelly1000]

Me too! Me too! Group hug.❤❤❤

[@jimmyconnolly3461]

CHRISTINE!!!! An hours long episode. I must watch it again today. How’re you? Another lovely weekend of sun. ❤️❤️❤️🥂xxx

[@ChristineKelly1000]

@@jimmyconnolly3461 I’m doing great Jimmy, and your self? Went to Lahinch yesterday and froze my ass off. How was your stay cation?

[@lindagage7315]

I think the lighter stain, the dark would be hot in the summer! Well done

[@settedesign7]

I like the teak oil. I'm a painter out of California and Umbria Italy. I love your channel. Remember the teak out rags are combustable and you will need to do both sides of the pallet boards or they will warp.

[@susanriverione7437]

I could watch your sweet golden pup all day taking in the sunshine under the yellow umbrella! Amazing what calms one.

[@melanierawlings35]

Thanks for being willing to share when things don't work as well as when they do.

[@KarenPFolk-qq7dx]

I prefer the lighter stain _ but whatever helps to get the house finished!

[@ritafoster4958]

As always, gorgeous photography and editing, guys! Your musical selections are beautiful. ❤️

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thanks so much Rita! Glad you like them!

[@dweamy1]

Awwww..poor Diego..lol.. he sure did look sorry for himself.

[@miriammuskal5402]

So many jobs good luck with all of them

[@AbigailGerlach-zt1sh]

Good evening from Colorado! The growing season is winding down, the temperatures are cooling off, the kids are back in school, and it's time to tidy up the property in case of early snow which happens now and again. It depends on whether the Polar Express comes this far south. Still, strimming, trimming, cutting weird tree branches, and emptying pots will make for an easier transition to autumn/winter. Pallet wood can be used for a plethora of things. A dog house for shade; storage boxes for gardening tools, potting soil, and hoses; a work bench for construction projects; raised beds boxes for planting; split the planks and build an A-Frame for beans, peas, vine veggies; out-door furniture like adirondack chairs and foot stools; box planters for trees, shrubs, herbs that spread and invade like mint; stools to stand on or sit on for gardening; ...that's off the top of my head.

[@wendyharper8930]

I like the first stain - the way it brought out the grain was lovely

[@stknmggs1788]

A culvert, large tube to beneath your driveway. You have so many assets in a spot that the fire truck would not be able to get near.

[@captpain1]

Build 2 work horses and then put a plank or 2 on top for a mobile workbench.

[@uppanadam]

Awww poor Diogo!! I'm sure he'll be back too his bouncy self soon!! Good too see you are getting bits and pieces for a harvest out of the garden!! Makes it all worthwhile doesn't it?? Cheers!!

[@agnesw9540]

You can make corn soufflé or cornmeal from your dried corn. Remember to never plant corn in the same place and they like lots of water at one time and leave for a while. They also love dried manure as compost.

[@paulinewilson613]

Love seeing all your cats and Frankie with his sock fettish and Diogo who reminds me of a gazelle the way he leaps around.

[@sullyhall]

Make a pallet bench get a nail punch and a hammer and knock those nails through / put something under neath to catch the stubs

[@Metalian66]

Chase wasps with a scent that they find dirty, such as mint or rosemary. Plant wherever you don't want wasps to have mint or rosemary.

[@troothseeker7312]

Place a semicircle/half a rectangle pipe (similar to drainage pipes used by roadworks) to retain your waterway & earth over, then you can drive your car up to the House

[@suedale1865]

I personally like the teak oil it brings out all the grain in the wood I agree with one comment Iwan make yourself a work bench you deserve it 👍 Another good vlog thank you both & 🐈‍⬛🐾🐾🐕🐓🐓

[@mramsden1969]

Ah my favourite part of Saturday morning, watching your progress in an overcast Yorkshire, chilling with my two sausages Hardy and Oddy ❤ 😊

[@dianerayburn1728]

I would glue and peg those blocks together. You'd end up with some nice chunky lengths of wood for future projects.

[@davidmarsh959]

First colour for the wood dave says to knock out the nails, tedious but worth it build a bench to work on. You can paint them on the bench you would not have to keep bending down. Fab job well worth it when done ❤❤❤BRILLIANT THANKS xxx Debbie UK xxxxxx

[@lynnemac1402]

I prefer the first stain you did that brought out the grain, so preference is the same order as you Ewan x

[@neutonrenda2303]

I can see that way works far better than trying to pry it free. It saves many split and wasted planks. Was expecting to hear a generator and then spotted your power bank, so much better.👍❤

[@knelson5442]

You might consider building your bedroom headboard from wooded blocks. Remember though you don’t always have to fasten with expensive screws and flanges. You can glue them directly together or use glue and dowels. I checked and Pinterest has all kinds of furniture built from wood blocks.

[@piaostgren9844]

Thank you for another great video❤I think the darkest brown colour

[@AleeshaSattva]

I'm probably not going to be popular... but I love the natural (with the nails included for a more rustic look).

[@projectportugal]

Lovely video again giys❤love the camera work, especially the depth of field🤔😁

[@FrankieOffGrid]

☺️ 🎥

[@magicwendy210]

great video, love your longer ones showing different things, thank you ☺

[@tonydart425]

Take the nails out and fill the holes with a wood filler, then sand the boards before fitting to the side. After fitting,coat with a wood treatment and leave and the wood will naturally bleach and look nice.

[@paulnixon9667]

And use the teak oil 👍

[@eunicehenderson9095]

A spray bottle of diluted essential oil (peppermint, lemon grass or citronella) spray areas you know the wasp like to nest to deter them.

[@lapsedluddite3381]

Great suggestion! I was wondering if there was a natural way to deter them.

[@joanlyons2141]

Clarissa, the music you play during your videos is so perfect. I especially love the piece you played while picking the corn. I have heard it before and it will forever be associated with you and your homestead.

[@eunicehenderson9095]

Those blocks are firewood!

[@pennywabbit3684]

Teak looks nice

[@maryroberts8566]

I prefer the lighter stain 😊

[@paulrogers3385]

Take another nail and pound(gently)the nail out of board from the cut side

[@Aotruba]

👍Thank you for sharing such entertaining video and for filming and editing it. I can imagine it's hard work doing so... I hope chickens are better and also hope Joao and Simao become friends. Frankie is hilarious with burying socks😂 Diogo is a sweetheart❣️ Albi🐈❣️. Can't wait to read your children's book you are writing, Carissa 👍😊👍

[@michelebushnik2874]

Oh gosh dear Diogo sting❤😭💕

[@quraibawentzel4143]

The oil looks best.

[@dominique8233]

Love Georgia O'Keeffe, amazing artist. We named one of our daughters after her.

[@fionabaran7954]

Something different make a table frame from the pallet wood and then inlay the square pieces as the table itself

[@paesDalmeida]

In summer, fruit trees need to be watered regularly - especially in this area, which is very hot. It must have been due to a lack of water that the pear tree dried out and its leaves fell off. It is a good idea to make a hole at the base of the trunk so that the water can accumulate there and be more easily absorbed by the soil.

[@SteveeCee]

Bom Dia, a very miserable, damp day here in the UK. Thanks for a ray of sunshine.

[@jackiclark6667]

Diego loves the cat basket he's so funny, honestly how can that be comfortable.?

[@FrankieOffGrid]

some of the positions he lies in 🤣 I’m sure he must never be comfortable

[@peterclewes7073]

the wood Stain would be my chose and leave the nails in.

[@carolbulmer8253]

Hi, Carissa and Iwan. I hope that you get the wattle fence back up, Carissa. I like the first stain that you applied, Iwan. It gives a warm honey colour and it shows the grain of the wood. See you next week❤️❤️

[@lydiamitchell6814]

A pipe/ whistle under the road to allow drainage. Also rocks/ large gravel should still allow water through ,under your road. The blocks, fire wood, a trivet to set hot pots on. Glue together several blocks and then drill a hole through the middle all the way top to bottom, then add cord attached to a bulb socket, then put a shade on it… you have a lamp. Set plant pots on to give height… maybe on your table outside. Lots of things!! Keep them dry and you will come up with many more ideas!! 😊 2 of my 4 dachshunds got stung by a black wasp on the face a month ago. I tried to send you a pic, but it wouldn’t let me. It looked like a funny app made their faces contorted. They were not happy at all! I used wet chew tobacco, I keep in my medicine cabinet… pulls poison out quickly. Always works good. Then I rubbed coconut oil on there stung spots. Poor babies!!! 😢❤️‍🩹

[@lapsedluddite3381]

I had never heard of using tobacco in that way, am definitely going to add some to my natural remedies kit, thanks for the idea!

[@ceciliaroodt2129]

Those blocks can be used for beautiful candle holders, planting blocks, pavers in your garden, or even some toys for kids that you can give away as a present or to sell. With the wood pellets and blocks. You can even cut them in different sizes and but it on a wall. There is so many options.

[@SunraeSkatimunggr]

I laugh every time you find buried socks. You will have a hit with a book about Frankie.

[@domgold30]

Bonjour I use a car jack to dismantle the pallets. Just put the base of the jack between the two wood layers of the pallet and wind it up to seperate the two layers do it where ever its needed and the rest is done with a hammer and most of the nails can be hammered out. No noise or electricity needed and works out fine. From France.

[@AndrewMorton-z4u]

put a concrete pipe in the drainage gully, cover with compact dirt and you can drive over the filled in gully to access the other ground but the water can flow when flooding through the pipe.

[@michelebushnik2874]

Pausing 16:42. I think with your young bodies it would be easy to dig across the ditch under driveway (especially after a rain when it is loser) and easily place/ install a sturdy drainage pipe in the exisiting ditch, then just cover over with gravel so your car and your supplies can be brought closer. It sounds like an easy fix.

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Haha that’s definitely not going to work

[@JaxPah8640]

Stain!😍

[@greenphoenix687]

Oh poor Diogo, bless him... and Frankie and her socks haha... can't wait for the book. And I think that little daisy like flower you picked is feverfew? Thank you for another beautiful video. The cabin is looking great and I like the middle one (I think the teak oil) btw :).

[@whatsupchannel3047]

A magic way to keep wasps away is to put a football in a large grey if poss slipper bag and hang it up where you do not want them to be ! Not fooling it works they think its a nest 😊

[@tinaforsingdal8072]

A brown paperback does the same trick - if you shape it to look round. We have uset it for years

[@lapsedluddite3381]

What a great idea (that I'm happily stealing) thanks!

[@desireeross9651]

Like the dark

[@mardimccabe6207]

trench out wherever the drainage ditches cross the driveway and then lay a row of long flat stones across the top of each as a ground level "bridge" for vehicles to cross over.

[@yvonnebailey9973]

Teak is my favourite stain, maybe with clear varnish as a top coat for added protection. Love all your videos, thanks for letting us share your lives with us. Take care and stay safe. 😊

[@JaxPah8640]

Now that you sure going to have a nice bedroom and bathroom you can use the old one for Storage and placement to keep your tools. It would be nice if you could open an access to the stone building into your kitchen ANF make it like your sitting or living room with a desk for work. It would be beautiful and make your kitchen a little more roomer! A complete house. Run walk ways bet ween areas and over head cladding🤔😍🤓 ,

[@Lookingforloveingpartner]

Wow i bet September feels so much better. I love everything about your homestead. Frankie is wee darling never mind the socks lol 🤣🤣🤣 i lost my dog 2 years ago . The are simply the best ❤ good luck 🍀🍀 stay safe till next time big hug for everyone 🫂❤️😊🤗

[@knelson5442]

I think you can buy a tool called an awl. It’s an inexpensive metal tool about 5 inches long with a point that is used to countersink nails. In your case it could be used to force the nail bits through the wood and pop out the other side. Just straddle the nailed portion over two other boards so you are positioned to use your awl and hammer to push the remaining nail portions through.

[@lapsedluddite3381]

I agree with you, and prefer the oil that enhances the grain, but do wonder about using the varnish to seal it. When we lived on our wooden sailboat in the tropics, we switched from using varnish to using tung oil, which enhances the grain of the wood while creating a gorgeous waterproof finish, and is MUCH easier to maintain than varnish. We found that varnish tends to crack in strong sunlight, and requires annual (at least) heavy sanding and revarnishing to maintain it properly. With tung oil just an occasional feather sanding and touch up was all that was needed to stay beautiful.

[@Carmelitass]

Ni el oscuro, ni el claro, el del medio es más bonito para mi gusto.