#102 

There is nothing better than a virtual trip to the Italian alps with cup of coffee on Sunday morning. Thanks, Martijn.

I am sure, many of us can imagine how hard it is to work so much AND to be a youtuber. How much work it is to constantly film yourself, to reposition cameras, to constantly think about lightening and sound and, in the end, to edit for hours.... Thank you so much for these beautiful videos! We appreciate and love it to have a peek in your adventures once a week!

I very much enjoy how you don’t spend time explaining the obvious things you are doing. You talk just enough about things we may not understand and not at all about things we should. Too many RU-vidrs explain in detail the obvious things they are doing and it’s a bit boring. Thank you for allowing us to figure things out on our own.

Those sound more like golden jackals rather then wolves.They have this specific sound almost like a childs cry.

Sunday mornings. Make the coffee, sit down, open RU-vid and there’s Martijn’s video waiting for me to enjoy. How nice. It’s a great start to the day. It makes me happy.

I remember Johannes' quote from March last year, when you got a big snowstorm and your car was stuck. He said: "I have a word for you - it's called April." 😀 He is such a sweet guy. The snow is beautiful - and I am so glad you are no longer in the bell tent.

I have a cabin on the western edge of Yellowstone National Park. Like Martijn, we are awoken many nights to the sound of wolves in our “backyard”. Like him, we often grab a flashlight and rush outside to see if we can catch a glimpse. It’s not the wisest thing to do. I’m sure interrupting a hunt is a bad idea. It never becomes less special though. Wolves are so essential to the ecosystem that our area has seen a tremendous improvement to wildlife management, plant life, and water system ecology. They are essential. Enjoy your neighbors, Martijn!

There is a book that was written by Hermann Phleps entitled The Craft of Log Building. Phleps was an architect, historian, and a pen and ink artist of incredible skill. The book was originally published in Germany in 1944. You can get an English translation published by Lee Valley Tools, Ottawa. It is a compilation of all the log building and rough timber framing techniques from the Alps to the Arctic Circle and from the British Isles to Central Europe. It is an incredible resource and may be something for you to refer to as you build. The text is very good and the drawings will be something that you will really appreciate.

Who watches Martijn’s videos more than once? Anyone! Anyone! Anyone!

Your stone tile work is a true labor of love. Worth every bit of labor. It is stunningly beautiful.

Living in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, I recycle most scraps, something will eat it, which includes egg shells, when raw, I rinse the shells and birds, fowl will eat for calcium. Hard boiled egg shells, scrap as is. I love this way of life. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. Deeply appreciated. Krystyna

can you hear them..the children of the night..what sweet music they make

Martin, loving the content. When it is was cold my grandma used to give the chickens hot water. Trust me they love it when its this cold. Cheers from Bulgaria !

You are a man of great knowledge, patience, and savvy. You have come a long way with your project. I truly salute you!

It would be an honor to live among wolves. Their howling is magical🐺🐺🐺🐺💕 And so much better then to hear a noisy neighbour's loud music and industrial hobby at night...😉Peaceful video again. Thank you!

Happy always to see the chickens surviving the whiteness of winter and the song of the wolves…I’m from Hawaii and had the rare opportunity to visit the Italian Alps this past October 2023… captivated by the beauty there so far from my own reality…thank you.

❤I look forward to my weekly visit to the Alps every weekend Thank you martin for being a gracious host

Martijn, I would not go out at night when you hear the wolves as you know they work in a pack, you could get surrounded by them and then that is tickets you are a gonna. Please take care. The stone floor is going to look beautiful when it is all grouted and finished. A lot of hard work but in many years to come it will be so worth it. I loved the walk.

Pastry bag for your grout. Make one with a heavy plastic bag and snip the corner. Love your work.

Martijn .. you just bowl me away with everything you do.. the balls you have. The skills you have and so dam hobble.. you show hard work and dedication pay off in the long run. You're a true gentleman and craftsman. Much love and respect to you, Sir!

The opening of your video reminds of the sound of the lone wolf in “Doctor Zhivago,” when Lara is kept awake by the wolf’s howl. Strange how it is frightening but a natural part of winter’s hold!

Easy to tell the visit by the dog was one of your more simple pleasures based on the smile on your face as you were walking away from it. :)

If you seal the stone with a matt or 'natural' sealant and then grout; you'll find the cleaning process much faster, cleaner and easier. I'm looking forward to your cabin build in the future too. A couple of lovely designs that fit well into the location.

Martijn, a huge tip is to seal the stone prior to grouting. After you’ve laid it but before grouting. Makes it SO much easier to grout. Wipes right off the stone rather than having to scrub it off so tediously. Also, a “matte” finish sealer will keep the natural look, just enhanced a bit. Looks great by the way! 👍

Martijn, I hope this note finds you well. I really love the wooden back panel idea with a hunter green color accent idea. I think it will look so nice. The shelving will be a nice touch as well, given space is limited. The floor is looking so good. As the floor was nearing completion it felt as if you had found your rthymn. Everything is coming along so well in the cabin. It's beautifully done with such attention to detail. I am so happy for you.

So good to see a snow storm and not be worried about the tent collapsing!

Love the floor - funny, doing some similar things i.e. matching broken heavy terracotta tiles as I remove a wall to create a window. Buried in rubble and renovation, with none of all your wonderful work space, but having just learned I won the Kenneth Patchen Award for the Innovative Novel for 2023 there are expected plusses in being distracted in small spaces. Have been trying to understand the platform you suggested but got lost in the digital weeds trying to download and get it up and running. Will try again. Wolves were a hoot.

The wolves certainly provided a memorable intro! Thank you for including that, as it was fascinating to hear their sounds. We don't have wolves where I live, but we do have coyotes. Their night-gathering sounds are similar, but more high-pitched. They will start out slow, and as more voices join in, they will eventually yip themselves into a crescendo, and then go totally silent. It's always impressive...

I have found when grouting natural stones to first put a clear sealer on the stones after laying them. That makes the grout come out of those tiny crevices and saves hours of clean up. I admire all the work you are doing and wish you the best.

I used to feed my chickens porridge made with warm water in the winter and they were very happy about that and kept laying x

Just as a personal taste, nothing more: Dont like the diagonal hatch of the future cabin doors, would be So beautiful to go like old preserved samples, horizontal wood hatch on the doors! ❤❤❤❤ Bravoooo my Zen Friend😊😊❤❤❤

In your new build plan it might be an idea to have a window facing north so that you can paint there when you feel the need

Only this guy would walk through the snow to take his chickens a nice hot drink

I love that you live where there are wolves. I understand that you may be concerned for the chickens, but wolves are such gorgeous, wild creatures. Lucky you!

Martjin is on the right track as the mason "grout bag" method of applying to brick or stone joint grouting is far less messy and cuts down on cleaning up grout residue and keeps even open pored and heavily chemically sealed natural stone from still absorbing modern cement grouts that endless sponging and cleaning just often doesn't remove that residue "haze".😇

Martijin Doolard Thanks! We started watching-listening to you during Covid quarantine, it helped to distract us from worry and fear (& Depression). We look forward to your postings every weekend, & miss you when you’re gone. Hope to meet you one day when we come to North Italy. We watch Johannes new postings too and enjoy seeing what his life is like on the other side of the mountain (& his PT city life too). We hope to meet you one day soon, when we’re in North Italy. Take care of yourself-and God Bless!-Lisa & Mark White, Woodland Park Colorado, USA (near Pike’s Peak 😊)

Watching each week from Tennessee, a true highlight! Reminds me of the days when I would anticipate new episodes of Yankee Workshop and This Old House on PBS. So, I know it's not my house, but I can still dream right? I'd love to see a large greenhouse/chicken coop and fenced in garden steps away from your cabin. The new floor looks excellent!

The noise of those wolves was pretty intense, and scary, it sounded like there were a lot of them. Your stone flooring is looking really good, what a huge difference you are making to your cabin, things are really moving along now. The scenery with all that snow was truly amazing and it was very heavy, where I live in Australia I don't get snow, I'd have to drive about 4 hours to get to it in Winter so I've never seen anything quite like your Italian Alps. Thank you for sharing your journey with us

Wolves are a thing of beauty. Nature's best. Thank you for sharing. Great pleasure in watching. 🇨🇦✨️

For long time I never hear the wolf howling...amazing beautiful even in the night landscape..

You want to know what the best part of not really having time to watch last weeks video is? I get to watch two videos back to back THIS week! Life’s good!

Every week your little home looks better end better... living inside is much nicer than the tent... I know its not finished... but I can imagine your life is much better now... love it

Loved the flooring. I would love to do this in my hall. Hope the dog got home safe and didn't run into that pack of wolves.

As for the sound of the wolf 🐺 it does run a chill up your spine. They are a beautiful animal.. oh, and the rock 🪨 floor that your putting down is absolutely beautiful. I love snow and yes I could probably live in that snow its so beautiful. I wish the sun would be out at the same time. Well guy I hope everything is going well and your doing good. I'll be wait till the next video. Till then God bless you 🙏 ✨️ ❤️ the videos of the mountains to the heavenly ✨️ sky are breath taken absolutely beautiful 😍

Good day Martijn! Those wolf must have been close enough for them to see you and go quiete when you were at the back of the house. They started again once you were at your door, scarry! The patience you have washing the floor after filling in the cracks is amazing, it would be overwhelming to me. Putting the cement in a cake decorator tube (not sure of what it is called) could be less messy. The floor is beautiful, wishing you easy success for the rest. Have yourself a great week!

Here you go again, Being Clever! Is there no end!! Thankyou from Western Australia ❤❤❤❤❤

A piece of heaven on earth. What amazing talents you have. A builder, an artist, a gourmet chef. . There is nothing you cannot do. So impressive! ❤

Good old Sunday morning with Martijn Doolard. Thank you so much for allowing us in your daily life and journey.

For the chickens, you might consider providing them a dust bath. It’s suggested aiming for a container with a length and width of at least 24-36 inches and a depth of 6-10 inches. Your chickens should be able to easily hop in and out but you don’t want all the material to fall out either. Made of Sand or soil, Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth, and Wood Ash. The two most important materials above are the diatomaceous earth and wood ash. Both of them will kill pests that infest chickens which is the number one importance of the dust bath. The dirt or sand is just a filler to mix in so it’s optional. Then depending on what you have available, the wood ash or diatomaceous earth should be added in to kill pests. Just a thought. They will love it.

When you love nature like you do Martijn, snow is not an issue. You enjoy each season as it comes!

The wolves are beautiful ❤

Your stone floor is so beautiful, so much work but so rewarding in the end!! The tool shed will be such a nice work space for you and a beautiful addition to your homestead. Thank you for sharing your journey with us, look forward to seeing you next week.

Your heart must feel so happy to be living inside that beautiful environment you're creating! Everything you've completed so far must be encouraging, even though there is much left to do.❤ Your work is a joy to watch.

You will have to polish the stones afterward to make the floor smooth with a special machine. In between the cracks, you can place tiny little colorful stones to connect instead of just cement and concrete sand. The end result would be like a marble floor. Our contractor built it for the main patio entrance, and it was beautiful. Off beige or darker goes well with little green stones.

I really love the log cabin idea that incorporates the stone support pillars on the corners.

You don't have any idea how much I love your way of living

Hello martin. I love lisening wolf when the cry. I havee. 8 nordics dog and each day. Thedy cry liike wolf. You do good work at. Home.

All the work you’ve done is now paying huge dividends. The floor is beautiful - as is everything you have done. I’m so glad you are now warm and safe. I’ll never forget when that storm tore your life apart a couple of years ago. I so love your videos xx

The floor tiling is looking STUNNING, Martijn 👋. The winter snow must be a challenge, BUT it is mesmerizingly beautiful 😯. Everything is going VERY well. Until next week xxx

Every project you work on becomes a piece of Art. Beautiful. So pleased you're living in your stone house now, hearing those wolves! 😮

Thanks for the bit of music beginning 8 minutes in. It really enhanced the sense of the peace.

Excellent work, Martijn. That floor is going to be worth all your backbreaking work. Crazy weather, doing the same here in Cdn. Rockies. Loved hearing the wolves.

More window for light and inspiration. I would be a grumpy chicken if there were wolves around at night. Keep them warm, Martijn. Keep yourself motivated in the winter. Thanks for keeping us motivated. Going to go work on my house now.

Highlight of the week every Sunday. Thanks Martijn. Also, this may be the most positive RU-vid comment section in existence lol

The views from your land are absolutely amazing you would never tire of it ,thank you for sharing .♥️🇨🇦

All that's been done there has turned out, and is turning out, wonderfully. 👌 I like plans for the workshop. Both look great with the buildings, especially the piller one, to me anyway. 😊 The dog was very intent on what it found to eat. And... I always enjoy the hikes and drone footage. Thank you for it all, Martijn! 🧡

Hearing the wolves was amazing! The floor is looking great. Mucky, slow work, but the finished product of your labour will be well worth it. I really loved the piano music you chose for those beautiful snow covered landscape scenes.

The floor is beautiful! You should be very proud of the job and I think you are. The workshop is going to be so nice. I love your idea of the stones on the bottom.

It’s amazing how talented you are in so many things.

THE STONE FLOOR IS BEAUITFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GLAD THE CHICKENS ARE SAFE & WELL!!!! THE DESIGN OF THE NEW WORK SHOP IS NICE!!!! Do take care. Fl., USA

Good morning everybody, I'm impress of all MARTIJN work... 🙏🙏 Love his mark... Blessings for all...

Greetings from Albania.. you have amazed us with the work you have done in such a difficult country... I continue to feel you with pleasure 👍🏻👍🏻

I loved listening to the wolf song at the beginning of the video ❤. That floor is looking absolutely AMAZING too. I really love the patterns made by the flagstone. Thanks for sharing the journey with us and take care!

Wolf howling is the signal of start of breeding season. There may be last years young males and females this year increasing the number. I love the colors of your stone floors.

Chau Martijn. Another week, another step that demonstrates how magnificent your cabin will look. The stone puzzle was amazing. The snow has returned, which makes the entire landscape more typical, which compared to the previous year has been less... less and less...😔 clearly demonstrating that the climate is different. An encouraging hug from Portugal.

Ciao Martijn....Your weekly videos mean so much, to so many. So grateful. #RESPECT

Amazing to see how your house is getting well formed and your skills. You are so talented.

Of all the videos my wife and I watch about people restoring old properties, you are the best by far. Your skills, eye for detail and work ethic are an inspiration.

Place the bright headlamp between your eyes and you see easily the eye reflections of animals from far away. Mind blowing trick, even tiny spiders appear as sparkling diamond

What a noise those wolves make: exciting and scary indeed, but pretty special and not something many people have the privilege to experiencing.

Beautiful Martijn. Thank you! It’s always a beautiful Sunday with you and our coffee!

I have several channels I watch on RU-vid from wood working to the aquarium and fish world. But your channel, Martijn is the very first one I watch. So peaceful and I love that you don’t feel you need to talk the whole time, but you do explain the new things you’re working on. By the way, I vote for the workshop with the stone pillars! 😁

Beautiful. Wolves, music, scenery, vibes. Thank you.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Floor looks very nice. Cabin really looking wonderful. Glad you have a fireplace and you are not outside in a tent in the snow. ❄️☃️❄️☃️❄️☃️☃️⛄️❄️⛄️🌨️❄️🌨️❄️🌨️❄️🌨️

Every week a nicer gift. Thank you

Your artistry shows up in everything you do. It takes one to know one. 🌱🌿🌳

Hearing the wolves is such a great feeling and tying that night scene with you reading the article in the morning was a nice transition too!

Wolf deja vu Martjin. 🐺 The floor is sensational! You can spot yr visitors while showering....4 and 2 legged 😊 Much appreciation for all u do to bring us peace n joy. Yr still the GOAT imho. 🎉

Thank you Martijn for all of your hard work and for all of the beauty you share with us every week!!! I hope you have a sense of how much your beautiful, weekly gifts are appreciated!😊

Your work is so artful if that’s a word , I so enjoy seeing your progress on your home and how you make your videos to show where you live. Thank you for doing this

I am really loving the stone floor you are working on. Truly beautiful. Your place is just so beautiful and i know things are even better off camera. So beautiful.

Very much enjoyed watching you put together the puzzle of the ground floor stones … and a hat drying slot, of course! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

We hear the same lunatic howling here in midwest US. By coyotes rather than wolves.

Oh so grateful that you’re not in the tent this winter! Thank you for what you do each week for us! I know how much work it must be as a wife of a RU-vidr as well as all the building you’re doing ❤️

The stone floor is looking great, I really am looking forward to watching the log cabin build. Thanks for sharing your life with us

Mr Doolaard ese piso está maravilloso, mucha dedicación y es un gran trabajo, pero sin lugar a dudas, para mi, lo mejor fueron los aullidos de Lobos, espectacular!!! Un gran abrazo desde Chile Martjin.

Gran trabajo, la dedicación, el esmero y esfuerzo puesto en cada cosa que hace es admirable, poco a poco cada instancia toma vida y se vuelve mas hermosa frente a nuestros ojos espectantes de que viene después. Gracias por su generosidad al compartirlo con nosotros.

Time to drift away in your life in the Italian Alps. How truly beautiful. Your hard work and expertise is an example to us all. It's absolutely stunning.

Tha floor is amazing and the snow so tranquil

What a wonderland! Those crystal trees are amazing, and the piano music is just magical. Thank you.