Portugal Smallholding » DIY, Building & Renovation

New Steps, Mosaic Started

Andy — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 16:33:56 +0000

Swimming Pool Preparations

Sophie — Wed, 12 May 2010 20:20:52 +0000

Matt, Aaron and Andy (supervised by Poppy) have been making the final preparations to the base for the swimming pool. First they levelled a 4.5m diameter circle on the ground (the ground looks level but there was a 10cm height difference from front to back of the circle!), then build a surround of stones (left over from foundations of the picadeiro wall), put down a weed-suppressant (the remains of our polytunnel that got trashed in the hurricane), and then a layer of sand to provide a soft and stone-free base for the bottom of the pool.

Final Levelling of the Ground

Laying Plastic to Suppress Weeds

Soft Sand Base for Pool

Mongolian Yurt to Kitchen Caravan Steps

Kirsten — Tue, 04 May 2010 11:27:32 +0000

Matt, Andy and new Woofer Aaron have been working on these today so they will be fit for use soon!

New Steps

Then we will have to mosaic the rising bits to make them look nice.

Working Hard!

Kirsten — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 20:41:01 +0000

We’ve all been busy the last couple of days bringing up wheelbarrows full of rotted horse muck up to the gardens. And today we’ve been working on the new kitchen garden at the side of Andy and Sophie’s house. The first stage is to clear the land of the rubble the builders left, and move it over to the other side of the land for Matt to use under the new concrete steps going up to the Mongolian Yurt. Phew it is hard work, but I’m getting stronger by the hour. We have to look out for the scolopendra centipedes though as they like hiding under old tiles and rocks, we’ve narrowly missed a few.

Muscle Power on the quinta for the new kitchen garden

I’m looking forward to planting stuff next to the side of the house where it will be easily accessible to eat and I can look after it at the same time as looking after Poppy. There’s a lot of heavy work to do though so maybe we will get the help of a small digger to speed it all up so we have more food growing soon. Also I’ve got a lot to learn about what will grow here and when, as previously I’ve had stuff in pots in my backyard in the UK and only a half-hearted allotment. Happy wheelbarrowing

Pirate Ship Slide

Sophie — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 20:56:59 +0000

We’ve been wanting to build a slide for Poppy for a while, and today Kirsten managed to blag a great pallet crate which has inspired the “Pirate Ship Slide”! We’ve decided to build it next to the Kitchen Caravan, so visiting children can use it too.

Pirate ship builders set off on their expedition, carrying the looted crate

Captain Oli digs holes for support posts

Making sure the support posts are level, don't want the ship to capsize!

Putting the ship on its supports, Poppy supervises.

The slide is added and Poppy inspects the progress.

Making wooden steps to board the ship.

Cana Roof

Sophie — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 21:06:46 +0000

Oli and Teresa renewing the cana roof of the Kitchen Caravan dining area.

A bench and a swale (and some sunshine at last)

Sophie — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 19:14:05 +0000

Matt made a pallet bench, or “bee observation station” to go up by the apiary.

Oli and Teresa have been digging another swale, for the last 3 apple trees.

We have some windows!

Andy — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 10:17:36 +0000

At last! The four front windows, big pieces of double glazing, are in. The frames had to be planed to fit them, but we do now have upstairs windows.

Finalmente! As quatro janelas frontais, grandes pedaços de vidros duplos, está dentro. Os quadros tiveram de ser planeado para encaixá-los, mas temos agora as janelas no andar de cima.

And the balcony floor is finished.

E o chão varanda está feito.

Next week, we are told, all will be completed.

Na próxima semana, nos é dito, tudo estará concluído.

Progress on the Steps

Andy — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:46:56 +0000

More steps have been brightened with mosaics.

Mais passos foram iluminados com mosaicos.

Kitchen Floor Finished

Andy — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:26:40 +0000

We finally have the kitchen floor tiled and grouted, thanks to helen and Paul who did the last of it for us.

Finalmente temos o chão da cozinha de azulejos, graças a Helena e Paulo, que fez o último para nós.