Moving into our Homestead on 2 1/2 acres | Our Crazy First Week 

The baby lamb in the carrier is hands down the cutest thing I've seen all day.

As a fellow Rural Kiwi, awesome spot. Also, see if your home falls into an area where you can qualify for discounted insulation! Big part of the healthy homes standards that's being supported right now.

Thank you for this vlog. As a Kiwi seeing NZ through yours and Carrie's eyes has made me really appreciate what a beautiful country we live in and am enjoying watching your journey in making the homestead your home. Looking forward to the next one and don't mind the longer vlogs at all! (And that lamb is too cute!)

The best 40minutes I've had all week! And so current with all our shared weather conditions. Alex you're a true pro video producer! Beautifully mastered. I'm enjoying watching your learning experience, and your humility by way of asking for advice, is great to see. For some reason the fact Carrie and yourself have chosen to live in NZ has made most of us pretty proud!👍🏻💕 Can't wait to see more.

Bloody loved that 40mins, especially from a cloudy morning in Auckland. Thank you Alex and Carrie for sharing a snippet of paradise during such a busy time. The tone was peaceful and a great balance of beautiful shots and chatting, spot on. Carry on with your instincts, its perfect.

30:20 That majestic buffoon is a kererū, if you weren't already acquainted, and its presence suggests you have native trees or other flora nearby which they like to eat from-especially various berries, including some which are large enough that kererū are the only remaining birds capable of eating and then distributing their seeds. It might be a good idea to make sure you know which are the native trees on your property, as cutting these down will prompt kererū and other native birds to move elsewhere and doing so without you local council's permission (which they will probably never give) can prompt them to issue heavy fines if they should somehow find out. When and if there are enough of these berries, kererū will gorge themselves and keep a supply for later inside a special thoat-pouch, but the stored berries have a tendency to ferment and the resulting alchohol has lead kererū to develop a reputation for drunken antics that would give Otago students a run for their money. Falling out of trees, erratic or unsteady movements, unprovoked dive-bombings, and disgraceful exposures are common among both of them. Fortunately, they're noisy enough that their approach can be heard in advance. Kererū also can be quite noisy, and the distinct sound they make in flight should provide warning of an impending collision. Furthermore, that particular kererū looks big enough that it will probably have a breeding partner nearby. Should this be the case, don't be surprised if you happen to see any eggs perched precariously on top of a few twigs up a tree. Much like Otago students (or any students, let's be honest), kererū will regularly occupy housing of questionable standards, and such "nests" are indeed normal for them. Unlike Otage students, kererū have nobody to blame but themselves for their poor housing choices, though the distinct possibility of intoxication when making those choices cannot be dismissed for either of them. If you happen to find an egg or chick that has fallen from such a nest, don't be alarmed or dismayed; just think of it as the kererū having its things tossed out by the tree for not paying its unaffordable rent, something that students would be quite familiar with if it weren't actually illegal in New Zealand unless authorised by the Tenancy Tribunal. On the off chance that you should find a fallen kererū chick while still alive, trying to replace it into the nest is probably a waste of time because even if the pile of sticks called a nest hasn't already blown away, the parents have probably already forgotten about the chick or presumed that they hallucinated it while in a drunken stupor. You local vet will probably be happy to take the chick or direct you to somewhere that will, though most NZ birds including all the native ones tend to look rather identical for the first few weeks, so the kererū chick might turn out to be a tūī or a sparrow. However, it's better to be cautious and just take the chick to them if you suspect it's a kererū or other native bird, as most of them have rather specific feeding requirements and, between human-caused decline and their own stupidity, it's honestly a wonder that the kererū hasn't gone extinct already. Anyways, all the best for your new homestead, and hopefully your kererū neighbours won't give you as much trouble as a flat of students would!

Oh my! You clearly found each others soulmate,& now you have found your nirvana! Bless your beautiful souls, you adorable couple.🤗✨️🙏

Wow, great vid. 8 Spanish white all the way 👍🏼... Had a few tears for the little lamb, you covered that part very thoughtfully and with alot of care. Speaks alot of who you are. Can't wait to see the finished house and your life in it start to take shape. 💚 Ps, I'm with you all the way on the firewood shed, my sentiments exactly... 😊

So magical. This makes me homesick! Although now living in Australia by choice, you can't beat rural NZ, you have a slice of paradise.

Happy Birthday, Carrie! May all that brings you joy, be within your reach.

The smile in your eyes on the first morning said it all

How cool. My husband and I met online over the Cov*d lockdowns. He came all the way from NZ to Michigan for us to meet in person!We married in Vista, CA and absolutely adore it there!! A year ago we moved onto our homestead here in the Midwest and dream to visit NZ one day. I told him, "what if thats OUR kids saying, 'I'm moving back to my dad's homeland, NZ'?" 😍

I can see Woolson being that sheep that scratches on the door cause he doesn't wanna sleep outside. Awesome 👌 vid

This is the absolute best content. So so inspiring, just warm and lovely, watching Carrie's as well and oh my god, so heartwarming I love it. Sending so much love ❤

Spanish white 🌱 The baby lamb and Lanki are such cute sweet buddies!!

Spanish white! Thats what we painted our walls 😊 gives a nice warm inviting feeling

"If you have any extra lambs, just let us know" - famous last words HA! Get him some nappies and lamb coats - it's going to be really cold and rainy the rest of this week. You can pick up everything you need at Keinzley Agvet in town. And ya, those gales were like nothing we've seen either - it was wild.

I love seeing you two (and Lanka) finally settled in your piece of paradise. I was raised on a farm in the Waikato and it brings back all those memories of pet lambs and calf club days. Over the years I have spent different periods living in a rural environment and the one thing I found was a must: a good little trailer. It will save you a lot of wear and tear on your car and eventually if you get a 4-wheeler for the farm, it will be in constant use. Your approach to your homesteading is great. You know what has to be done but it's all baby steps for now. Big hugs to the growing family...lol

A lot of hard work raising little lambs. So cool you are showing the world what it’s like to live here. !!!!

Wow, life is a GRAND ADVENTURE, isn't it??! Congratulations on moving in and I'm happy you made it. Carrie had a little lamb, little lamb little lamb, Carrie had a little lamb, its fleece was white as snow. :D

You have definitely found your own little slice of paradise here in New Zealand! Absolutely loved this video. Five years ago I moved from Auckland to Waihi in the Bay of Plenty region (where I grew up and left at 20 and swore I’d never return to only to come back 25 years later lol) and purchased my own little dream house. Isn’t it a wonderful feeling? 🙂 I would love a lifestyle block like you own, but chronic health issues means I couldn’t manage the upkeep, but I have beautiful rolling hills as my view and sheep and cows to watch, walking tracks with creeks to enjoy. Little Woolson is adorable. I got a bit emotional over the lambs 😌 Thank you for the effort and quality of your videos! I normally skip ads on RU-vid, but this kind of quality deserves at the very least that I watch them, so I am, plus adding a small super thanks 😁 Can’t wait to watch this journey of yours.

Always wanted to go to New Zealand! Love watching you both find peace and happiness!

Wilson….. we love you!

The longer format is better, as it gives a more cohesive picture of what you are experiencing. Plus, it relieves some of the pressure of uploading as frequently. Being in the kitchen with a baby lamb is as "Kiwi As" as it gets! Invest in a much bigger paint roller, as it will save a lot of time and give you a superior finish. It might be worth it to open the dam gate and use the flow to suck some of the silt out of your pond. Assuming the opening is fairly low. Buy a chainsaw, sharpish and a powered wood splitter. You will burn through a lot of firewood. Good luck to you both.

Do you think the ducks will adopt you?, My wife and I recently nursed a wild duck back to health, 10 days last Christmas he never left the property then he flew away and for three months he came back for a daily feed, As a reminder of our time together I use his image on this account. It is so rewarding when you can help an animal, Good luck with woolson.

Looks like you guys had quiet the week! Love the addition of Woolsen to your family. Might be an idea to check with your neigbours if they use a clostridial vaccine for their lambs and if they be willing to share a dose with you (as 1 bottle is normally 50 doses). I think this is normally done around 8 to 10 weeks of age.

I live in NZ, and often have to take something for travel sickness from the roads, you can get a thing called sealegs from life pharmacy! Definitely a life saver :)

My wife and I moved here from LA 20 years ago. Best decision ever. Now we’re on to the next adventure!

Wonderful all those fruit trees, I would get the gutters and rain system done early on because that’s major but so glad I found this channel.

Soooo excited to watch!!! Watched Carrie’s video twice already. This is absolute magic I’m so happy for you guys ☁️🙏

Spanish white that will feel warm and welcoming to your new home . The other you can still feel the coldness come through . With both your warm personality Spanish paint is so ideal . Good luck !

Hey guys welcome to the Wairarapa, now I've got some renovation tips for you... get yourself a bigger paint rolller and tray, the job will take half the time and will have a much better finish, ol mate at mitre 10 really set you up with that foam roller. Get yourself a large free standing fireplace ( bigger peices of firewood means less chopping and will burn all night) , they put out a lot more heat than that inwall one and you can cook on them too. Don't strip wallpaper, just rip the walls down and start again. Coopers paint stripper is best, also a linbide scraper is your best friend for scraping old paint off windows and doors.

Quarter pearl lustre...if you having a white trims and ceiling I'll create a nice contrast. Great vid!

This video was heartwarming and so cool to share "the ride" with you both. It makes me feel optimistic and positive about the world because there are beautiful people like you and Carrie who are making it a better place. Kia kaha.

I'm 10 minutes in and I just had to stop and comment. We are sheep and beef farmers and I have to admit its really heart warming to see what we take for granted every day as something special, because it is, we just forget that sometimes! Theres something special about rural life. Everything has a purpose, its not fussy or for decoration and thats why its so authentically beautiful I suppose. I draw the line at having lambs inside the house though. Grab yourselves a very large plastic container, some old towels, a heat lamp and put it in the garage or laundry. Good luck!!

It looks like a very especial Dog. My niece “Upuli” & her nice family lives in Dunedin/Otago. I Hope One Day you both can meet them. They have 2 lovely Kids, a girl & a boy. U 2 should plan soon......

Loving the long form video! My 18month daughter and I ate breakfast and watched this video. She loved it and it was really relaxing. Thank you for sharing the journey ☺️ and happy birthday Carrie 🥳

What a fantastic episode. You're both having quite the adventure and love the new addition to the family, Wilson is so cute! Your videos are so uplifting and inspiring. Thank you!

Well done, sir. I wish your couple everything of the best with the rest of your journey on this earth. Much love from Johannesburg, South Africa 🇿🇦. 🙏🤝🤝

Watched to the end. It wasn't at all like watching paint dry, except for all the paint drying in the background of course. Woolson is a star. More Lamb Cam shots please

Yay I’ve been waiting for this!! I am so here for this journey. I love seeing it from yours and Carrie’s perspective!!

Found your channel from Carrie :-) Two suggestions I could offer (being a 5 acre block owner) is to get a third water tank if you can. As you say, you need to collect all the rain water you can. I lived in the Wairarapa (Carterton) many years ago and the summers can get REALLY dry. Number two is when you you get around to adding mirrors, cabinets, pictures to your rooms (yes, this is a while off yet), make sure they are secured to your walls. The Wairarapa can get some good earthquakes so you want everything to stay up. One good thing is that your home is not brick or concrete block and will be on piles so this is a real bonus :-) Oh and EQ's are not that bad. We survived the 7.8 EQ that happened not that far from us here in the South Island and our is about 50 years old. Love your vids :-)

Check out the NO DIG method for your garden beds ... Just chop and drop what's growing on it ... Like the big stuff ... Chop it small ... Then cut up cardboard plain(no colour on them)boxes and cover two layers blocking daylight out then find some cheap bale's of straw or hay and thickly mulch and water down or do a rain dance!!! HAVE FUN ... but no need to dig those beds at all. Lots of vids on it ... And plant straight into the mulch!!! Happy Gardening Darlings!!! 🕉️💗🕉️

Love the longer videos, Alex. Keep em coming. We got special netting for our gutters to keep the water collection flowing and to stop leaf blocking. If u guys had a wind turbine last week u would have racked up the kilowatts lol. You guys should invest in a pohutukawa tree, the kiwi Christmas tree. During my travels in my younger years, sheep often came up being associated with NZ. I ended up convincing these backpackers that every homeowner get a lamb when they buy a house and it's a law you have to have at least 4 at all times. So u getting woolsen made me giggle. I find such peace and joy watching your family blossom and I just want to give you all a big hug! Thank you for sharing your story with the world. I look forward to each new video u both put out. Best uplifting content on the internet by far. Arohanui

Absolutely loved following along your journey and first week of rural living in NZ. Loved the longer vlog real life journey format and can’t wait for the next one. Congrats guys on your wonderful property and may you have a wonderful happy life there 🌼💛🌼

So excited for you both! Spanish White is bright yet warm! Good luck!

If you weren't aware bro. That bird you filmed was a Kereru or Wood Pigeon in English. This bird is on the endangered species list. They are like the B52 bomber of birds. They are so heavy that they have to really flap the wings to move hence you usually hear them before you see them. They will gorge themselves on berries on the forest floor to the point they are too heavy to fly. Sometimes the berries have naturally fermented and the birds can be see holding on to the tree upside down like a bat as they have become inebriated from the fermenting berries.

Love this last video. Typical bloody New Zealand weather. Oh well if you don’t like the weather wait 10 minutes. Wife’s renovated a 140 year old row house in Montreal when we first married. Two pieces of advice. Don’t go to bed Mad. Old floors are not level and if you do level them you will probably crack all of the plaster in the rest of the house. Much better to live with floors with character. Our marriage lasted 40 years five countries and 2 provinces. And not going to bed mad was the best rule we ever had. 40 years of love, walking down the street holding hands and kissing whenever we felt like it. Also only renovating one house helped a lot. Good luck. Expat Kiwi

A beautiful video. Really looking forward to seeing all the future videos of your new life chapter. I feel so fortunate to live in this wonderful country and it is lovely to see all your adventures here. Your little family are a very special part of the 5 million community.

We have 1/4 Pearl lustre in bedrooms and hallway. 1/2 pearl lustre in lounge and also dining /kitchen. Love it!!!! Live in Dunedin, South Island. Enjoy your new life and memories 😊

My favorite video of the week! 🥰 🐑

Welcome to rural living in NZ. Power cuts are a normal during winter months. I recommend you install a external fireplace with a wet back (heats up your hot water) and can cook on during those power cuts. All the best on your country living.

Up until now I've been a part time viewer but absolutely loved this vlog with a bit of everything in it. I feel like we're on your journey with you. Thank you so much. I'm looking forward to your future content. Happy Birthday Carrie! Spanish White rules! Cuddles for Lanka and Woolson!

You have already identified that on a rural property your water collecting system is a priority on your job list. It's something I constantly monitor and you'll learn to be very conservative with water. As you are already aware, it gets very warm and dry there in summer. Great progress, Kia kaha

You might also be lucky enough to have eels in your pond or creek that you can feed and make pets out of, they become really friendly and add another unique touch to your homestead...

The birdsong around your property is a captivating sound. Taking on all this land is no mean feat! I'm really looking forward to seeing the finished product. Maybe put the granny flat on AirBNB, I'll come visit! :P About the format of the video, I like long-form content. I personally try for no longer than 30 minutes, that's just me though. I know Carrie has her own videos she's making, but I would like to see more of the both of you in each other's content. It seems like you're going for individual perspectives, and maybe it'd free up time spent editing if both of your content was more combined together? Anyway, best of luck with your renovation - looking forward to seeing more.

I like the Pearl Lustre but at the end of the day it's your forever home. It's a lovely home have fun and be happy.

Naae yous are awsome. The country life is the best. Away from traffic noise. Jus yous an the animals. Big congrats in your new home. I been watching since yous first moved to NZ. Beautiful Home an family 😍.

Homeowner here who remodeled my home, just three somewhat layered tips: 1. make a list (an actual physical list, not in your head. and yes, it will be constantly growing) that establishes priorities (and set the type of priority, e.g. essential for living, essential for future living, immediate band-aids to be corrected later, not immediate needs but need to be done by X date, nice-to-haves but can wait, quick-fixes, expense-related fixes, etc.). So many of your projects will affect other projects that you need to determine what needs doing first so you don't end up treating symptoms instead of core issues. Doing things that are easy and quick is pointless if another project will destroy them or render them obsolete. 2. know what tools you need versus which ones you can do without. Doing a project without the proper tool can make the project take much longer than it should and in the long run be more expensive if you have to correct past work. The house is the project, the tool is the investment. Conversely, there are tools out there for things that can easily be done with things you already have. Don't waste your money on every specialized tool, just get the ones you need. 3. Rewards and fulfillment. When you finish a project or a tough day, reward yourself (something simple like cracking a beer). Check off the things on your list that you finish and mark the date. Look back and see what you have accomplished over the year, month, week. As you progress in your remodeling and projects, life will happen and your progress will slow. But as long as there is still something on your list, do something towards a project every day, no matter how small. Even something as small as fixing a drip or replacing a single light switch. It's important that you keep progress going every day. But if you aren't able, don't punish yourself. Just acknowledge that you missed a day and start fresh. Best of luck in your projects and welcome to the adventure!

I really enjoyed this video, so thank you! Can't wait to follow along in new upcoming videos :) All the best for you and Carrie (and Lanka and Woolsen of course, they are the cutest

My new favorite video of yours! I’m sooooo incredibly happy and excited for you guys!!!! Loving the longer videos! Your channel is just. so. special. to me. Sending love :)❤️

I just found you love your Homestead and your house Happy Birthday to your beautiful wife

The new place looks great. Regarding your dog, if skin irritation is causing scratching consider Cytopoint. Sorted our dog when all else failed, injection at vet but lasts weeks/months as only need to do if the dog needs it (by behaviour, not time)

Absolutely loving the long vlog format’ beautiful story-telling. I’m feeling so inspired by you guys 💓🥰🤗🌞🕊🐕

Love it, love watching it all! The property is stunning xx

Tip for paint brushes overnight. Wrap in Clingwrap , then put all in plastic. place in fridge. This keeps them fresh for two-three days & means you don't get watery paint from leaving in water overnight. Keep your water tanks potable ( lots of bird sh-t etc comes off the roof ) Any brand of bleach will do it. Find out size of tanks & dosing rate. per 1000 litres. it also pays to alternate tanks being used for house every week so you maximise water catchment when it rains, especially in summer months

It is so re-assuring to see someone else going through sensory overload as it slowly sinks in of all the things that will need to be done to bring the house/land/lambs etc. into order. I think of it as balancing on exasperation. One minute you think I've got this covered then life throws you another challenge simultaneously. Stay focused, but hold it soft around the edges. Peace to you and yours.

Welcome to New Zealand. I love the longer vlog thank you for sharing your journey with us all. :)

I enjoy watching your learning along the way in your journey of your homestead. It's beautiful to watch.

I like to think that Woolson is a metaphor for your new beginning and life ahead on the homestead. A little unsteady at first, but strong enough to endure. Looking forward to seeing your dreams unfold. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences.

I live in Wales in the UK and it looks so much like Wales! The weather is very much the same, winters here are rough, we live very near the mountains so when it rains the water runs down to our gardens, and just washes everything away, we need lots of water butts to catch the water to help water all our veggies and fruit trees! 😀🐑🐑🐑

What a amazing video Good Luck to all of you

I clicked on to this so fast!!!! I love your little homestead and Woolsen!!!!

Wilson!!! So cute!!!!!

A reno tip for you.. buy a small electric sander that is like a triangle shape and use that to sand the dry wall/plaster. It will create a whole lot of dust but it will save your sanity when you have a whole house to paint prep.

Love it welcome to NZ 🦋

That was the best video Iv ever seen. I totally relate to that feeling of utter joy and contentment amongst the creating process. You both look so happy. I cant wait for the next video. Please please make more of these longer videos.... and daily if possible haha 😄

Wishing you love, laughter and good friends in your new home. I shall be following your adventures with great interest.

Thanks for this video! Love this homestead.

I love that your accents are so heavy yet you both say New Zealand in a perfect kiwi accent 😆👌 I approve Nau Mai, haere Mai. I wish you many years of happiness and adventure in your new home!

Just waiting for this video! 🥳

Tint the primer over that red wall mid gray. Heaps easier for your white top coats.

Loved both yours and carries videos so much! Can't wait for more💗

I love that you have your own piece of Aotearoa to call home! Really looking forward to seeing more vids and making it into "Home sweet home" 🏡

What a great video! You guys are going to have so much fun. And the pandoras box never ends with a home. Renovation tips I've learned after 3 homes 1. Pick up trucks are not over-rated - it will get used for sure 2. Save your scrap lumber (you'll need it one day) also goes for random hardware 3. Start with your foundation and work your way up to cosmetic to save your stress levels 4. Low VOC paint doesn't smell 😁 5. Take before and after photos Cannot wait to see what's to come!

Great video, look forward to watching your progress.The hard work will make it all so worthwhile for the future .👍

For renovations I would definitely recommend being very purposeful about finishing projects before starting the next one

Best of luck, you guys are living our dream life. Huge project, tons of work need to be done, just take steps by step. Have fun and keep sharing the process for all of us.

Love watching your next adventure. You found a treasure. We need to re-commit to our small farm in Tennessee after some of recent years feeling alienated here due to the politics. We are repainting inside this week and it'a a big project when you are 65 and 70, but worthwhile. I ride my horses and do barn chores daily, but painting stair rails and baseboards feels physical. Enjoy being close to the world outside. Being immersed in natural cycles help cushion us from the tension in the U.S.

Awesome video! So excited for you guys! The house abs property looks great!

Great to witness your start on a truly epic adventure!! Excited to watch your progress and grow. Enjoy the journey.

I think you're going to need a pair of red bands. They will be a life changer. Make sure they are Skeller Up.

What a beautiful farm and cool house! I like that it’s a rich blue with a green roof: reminds me of Scandinavia. And the sleepout looks like it has potential as a farmstay or an AirBnB.

Love homesteading channels and yours is by far one of the best! I'm new to your channel and really loving it! Thank you for opening up your hearts to that poor little orphaned lamb!

Great stuff guys! Doing well for first-time renovators. And Wilson is sooo cute 🐑

I really enjoyed this longer vlog! Since you’ve asked for recommendations for the renovation, I would pay attention to the quality of the windows, the door entrance , the type of insulation etc.. to save energy . I know that we all want our home to be pretty and feel welcoming as soon as possible but saving energy is essential . I wish you the best of luck for the journey and will follow you along the way . Love from South of France 🇫🇷

Crazy weather! Here in Oz too. We are are having really heavy rain. Loving your vlog and your caring nature. Hope you get your little beasties health sorted. Bless. P.S. Loving those. fat chubby bumble bees!

raw, pure content! Excited to continue with ya'll and this incredible journey!

Really like the long story format - able to express the total story. Like seeing you guys build your forever home!

Id love to see your process of setting up ur vege garden.