RENOVATING A RUIN: The Joy of Hard Work & Family in a Garden in Tuscany, Italy (Ep 55)
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#Italy #gardening #spring
My favorite part is your son watching his grandfather install the trellis! Made me smile!
He stayed like that transfixed and watching my father work for about 20 minutes. 😂
Kylie, I am in North Carolina, USA…recovering from long rounds of chemotherapy. Your videos are absolute therapy. I am 72, but my entire life, I have enjoyed baking and I am an avid gardener. Your videos bring me such peace, and it is as though I am able to live vicariously the beautiful life you have created for yourself. You are an extraordinary young woman, and I relate so well to your lifestyle and the beauty you have manifested. Thank you. We are on our way to Italy at the end of April, to spend 6 glorious weeks, and I cannot wait to return. It is my happy place.
Wow. Thank you for sharing all this with me. It’s so deeply motivating to know there are people like you out there who appreciate my little videos. I hope you enjoy Italy. End of April and May is such a perfect time of year to visit. ♥️
Wishing you a good recovery and great joy in Italy!
Hi Deb. Sending you positive energy during your recovery and wishing you a fabulous time in Italy. 💖💖 from Canada.
I’m sure Italy will help you with your recovery. Wishing you well
God Bless, love all your videos… so inspiring… you are the best…Gods grace is bestowed on you! Happy Easter and Happy Spring 🌞🌹🙏❤️🌷XO’s😘
Gianfranco was basically dancing to the sound of the drill, he was down with the rhythm 😍😂
Nothing more calming and therapeutic than seeing family enjoying those very precious moments in time together in glorious surroundings in a garden created with love. And one little boy watching and learning the simple things in life that will give him a solid grounding for his future. Kylie, this was absolutely wonderful and memorable in many ways. Thank you so much ❤🙏
You are lucky to have such a crafty and hardworking father.
I think so too....He's so talented and also so willing to roll up his sleeves and do so many hours of hard laboring. Amazing. And Kylie's mom, too....What a blessing.
This brought me great joy. Reminds me of working with my grandma in her gardens. Kylie - protect your back...coming from a 56 year old who used to lift those bags too :)
I live with my daughter, son in law, and two grandkids. Our big house is where most family gatherings are. My daughter and I work together and prepare as much food as possible in advance. Our main goal is to enjoy the events ourselves and to be present with our guests. We have learned that running around slaving over everyone is not the goal. It is being with them and enjoying them ourselves. We have even pre frozen a gourmet chocolate birthday cake in advance, it was perfect!! A bolognese sauce can be frozen and thawed, just wonderful.
Your trellis vines will be most happy if you make their rise at a 30 degree angle or more. It is tempting to try to train the vines straight up the trellis, but this makes it more difficult for the water and nutrients to travel up in growth. You’ve built a beautiful home and garden. God bless.
Awh- little Gianfranco dancing to the sound of grandad drilling and his dear little head looking up at him. Children are the best of the best 💕🕊
Nothing like the sleep you have after a long day of physical labor… feels so rejuvenating. Another beautiful video. Thank you, Kylie!
Unless you go the other way ! My husband and kids cleared our garage out because we are moving , we cleaned ,swept , scrubbed , lifted to the tip all day and then none of us could sleep 😂 over tired as my mother used to say
I first fell in love with the Italy’s food and countryside while reading Frances Mayes’ books. I now have your videos to sustain my love affair with those fields and trees that surround you like a crocheted blanket. Thank you, Kylie, for your extraordinary filmmaking, expressive writing, and amazing recipes.
Hi Kylie. Your young apprentice gardener learning where food comes from and watching his grandfather is priceless, moments that will set him up for a healthy life, physically and emotionally. Its great to see this.
Thank you Kylie, your videos, as always, transfer me to a place of calm in a world that isn't. The vegetable garden reminds me of my late dad who was a farmer and during his last years was working in his vegetable garden. He used to put plastic chairs in different parts of it so he could sit when he was tired. And he said that this was the thing that was giving him a reason to get up in the morning.
Your lovely dad is the hero of this story. What a wonderful presence in your lives. Loved seeing the close up of his ropey-veined arms working, and footage of him forging through the obvious fatigue of heavy labour. It’s such generous parental love and he oozes kindness and decency and warmth and your mum always there providing the consistent assistant. Maybe do a story on your folks?
I think what I love most about your videos is how you connect art with charm and the harshness of everyday life. It's clear that you're doing your thing, living your life, yet you can present it in such a romantic way that it's impossible to get enough of it. I often rewatch your old videos when I'm not feeling too good. I wish good health to your whole family. Your parents are angels, your dad can fix anything. A miracle
What a lovely way to describe my work. So kind of you. 😊
You are so blessed to have your lovely parents share with you and help out
I chuckled when Giofranco stepped over a block to enter the vegetable garden area and then landed flat on his bottom! There is so much work to do!! You do not need to worry about exercising. Watching you all busy doing your work and your precious baby toddling along trying to keep up looked so natural, like that is the way it was meant to be. In the evening, when you are sharing your dinner, it must be very fulfilling. God loves you all.
Lovely video,JohnFranco is so funny the way he helps and watching your Dad up the ladder.
GianFranco is the best helper in town😂❤ he’s the cutest
Kylie, you have such a gift at telling your story. My heart is full of emotions while watching your videos. I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks the music and video work harmoniously with each other. Watching you work with your Dad, makes me wish mine was still alive so we could continue projects together. Your little boy trying so hard to be helpful takes me back when mine were little. Life is so short yet so quick. We are but a breath in history. Live each day to the fullest and be thankful for loved ones. Thank you for sharing.
Such a beautiful comment. And I agree.
Lovely comment and I totally agree.
Thank you so very much. It means a lot to me. 🥰
I loved watching you and your father work in the garden together....so special!
You brought back some sweet memories for me, Kylie, memories of when I was a young girl and working in the garden with my father. My father has been gone for several years now but those memories will keep on bringing me joy for the rest of my life. Gianfranco really wanted to open the bags of soil for you, he is such an adorable baby, what a blessing he is for your family!!!
How beautiful to have those memories endure. Yes, Gianfranco wanted to open every single bag. It was a fight on all 30 of them!😂
The new garden area came out beautifully! With all the back breaking hard work you and your Dad put into getting it done, I have much love and respect for you both! 🥰 I was exhausted just watching you both! 😂 I am sure it will be quite successful. Seeing the countryside bathed in green and blooming with beautiful flowers makes my heart so happy! What a joyful place to wake up every morning! ❤
😊😊😊😊😊
Great grandfather and grandmother the baby has
I so enjoy the peaceful, beautiful vision you have of your world. Thank you for sharing it with us. P. S. Your little baby boy watching his grandfather use tools is the cutest thing EVER!
Such a blessing to have your parents helping and also enjoying the with the baby ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
I love and admire that you protect your beautiful baby from the internet. Your videos are always so soothing. Thank you
As it has been snowing here now for the last three days, it is so nice to see spring plantings and clear blue sky. Thank you, Kylie.
Hi Kylie! I admire you as a hostess, you are so warm and welcoming for all of your guests. It would be great if you could do a video of how you exactly prepare for a visit of friends like this. Recipes, timing and how do you prepare while they are already in home. Thank you for all of your beautiful videos!
Your vegetable beds came out beautifully! You are such a hard and happy worker, you look so happy to be doing the work and achieving your goals! It’s so wonderful! And having the baby involved at every step is so lovely. He seems to be so interested and enjoying it all. I love all your cooking, flower arranging, planting, table setting and decorating. Your videos are always beautiful, inspiring and interesting.
Cherish every small moment with your baby boy , and precious moments with your parents. Beautiful memories ❤
I noticed your red bud trees. They also grow them here in the Ozark Mountains. My husband and I started some projects in our yard as well . The ground here is also very rocky! We put down pavers for a patio with a firepit, an area for lawn games like corn hole and hatchet throwing, and finally a sandbox & tree house for the grandkids. We are looking forward to many happy times with friends and family in this outdoor space!
Spring has sprung! This is my favourite time of year, when everything seems to be coming back to life. I love watching you all work together with Jon Franco lending a helping hand at every turn. ❤
Fantastic! I’d love this family life in the countryside! How wonderful it is to have family around you as you work and play! The little one is having so much fun!
Such a beautiful piece of film work. It’s so lovely seeing you all toiling together as a family. Having very similar pebbly and stony soil where I live, which often we can only garden by using a pick or mattock, I totally appreciate what hard and back breaking work it can be. Your son is fascinating. My son was very similar when that age. Obsessed with tools and helping in the garden. I can never get over how utterly beautiful the countryside you live in is. ❤
Oh ….to be a guest at your lovely home! How lucky they are to enjoy those views, that spectacular property, your amazing cooking and every little beautiful detail you think of. I don’t think there’s anything you, Guido and your parents can’t do ! And now I see Gianfranco is extremely observant of your father’s techniques. He’s so adorable!
♥️♥️♥️
I sent you a comment regarding the gorgeous song in this video and have read what you said regarding this after the fact! Such a bummer! That song is stunning! It almost seems like a Christian song to me which I adore! Blessings to you and your precious family always….😊
Your parents are amazing!! You are all amazing. The back breaking work you did in the garden is really going to pay off. Thank you for such a great video.
Who needs a gym..? 💪🌱. Thank you so much for sharing these beautiful parts of your life ❤. Brigitte 🌷
Beautiful video! Thank you Kylie.. Your little boy is sooo precious. Lovely watching him explore and help in your beautiful garden. 🥦🍒🥬🌺🌿🌻 Lots of love Karen (South Africa)
Family Matters! Lucky for you father and mother to be around! hoping they are enjoying the family!
Such a lovely and heartwarming episode ❤Thank you, Kylie.
I love the garden you created and will have to keep that in mind when I one day have my own home. I'm past the age of a toddler following me around but he is super cute! I love the bond you all have and you live in a state of love and respect for one another.
This is so beautiful. I have been watching you for quite some time. You and your family are so talented. But this video is quite special. There is nothing like toil to the Earth that forms you. From a small Homestead in Pennsylvania. Hands to Earth Homestead. Much love to you.
Oh thank you! Much love to your home as well! 😘😘😘
Another moment in paradise , thank you.
Kylie you all are such hard workers..the gardens are going to be beautiful.💐🌼🌷🌹🥦🥬🥒🌶🍅🍒
Omg Kylie! The hard work that you and your family put into your home never ceases to amaze me. It shows in the beauty of all you create and it is a gift to be able to view your home, your food, your family through these videos. Thank you!
The fact that you and your father are still standing is a miracle! Such back breaking work but so worth the effort. After 4years of watching you I can only admire the end results and am more than a bit envious. Gianfranco is a very ardent observer. Such a sweet child. Ciao.
Thank you for watching all this time. 😘
Thank you, Kylie. This is so needed during these uncertain times filled with hate, vitriol and discontent. Returning to the earth, hard work and the love and support of family and friends is so needed. Let this video point us in the direction of these virtues. My everlasting thanks for sharing! ❤
Yes, Connie. Whenever I feel troubled by the outside world, hard work in the garden is definitely the antidote. 🌿
Thank you Kylie for sharing your knowledge of all things cooking, gardening, motherhood and family with us. It’s like opening a much coveted and valued coffee table book. Seeing precious Gianfranco in the garden with his grandfather and watching him on the ladder is a treasure. ❤❤❤
Thank you very much. 🙏🏼
So loved your videos that we have booked a road trip to TUSCANY in 8 weeks time for 8 weeks. So excited.
Yay! How exciting for you! Enjoy! ❤
We are 35k from Florence in radda in chianti as a base for few weeks so we can visit the area. Better keep practising my Italian.@@KylieFlavell
Beautiful as always. Love your garden. Gianfranco is growing so fast, he will be a great helper. Love that your parents help you out. I hope you and your mom feel better. Happy Palm Sunday and we don’t hear from you next Sunday have a beautiful Easter with your family.
Try the Lasagna method for a no dig garden. In the Fall, pick a site or sites, layer leaves, grass clippings, compost. Cover with tarp to compost over winter. In the Spring you will have beautiful garden soil. When you dig you disturb the nutrients. Love your videos and your way of life with all the love uou show each other.
Kylie, I'm a meal-planner as you are. When we have house guests (and first of all I try to keep it to three days), I list all the meals, shop for everything, prepare as much in advance as possible, and plan at least one dinner out. My delightful guests often treat the night out!
Love the beginning-the music and the enchanting film.
Me too❤
❤❤❤❤ What a glorious beggining and end .... what a really marvellous video, remind me working with my father and seeing from outside is so sweet ...makes good for soul .... Thank you so much for remind me that feeling!!! Your property is so pretty .... every day, every week, every sunday and every year!!!!❤❤❤❤❤THANK YOU!!!!!!!
Love your new veggie garden ,your so lucky to have your parents stay for extended periods of time ,amazing for your family 😊xx
Days like you just did are why they invented jacuzzi bathtubs. I use to stand on my feet all day working and it was such a gift to come home at night and relax in a jacuzzi with the jets helping my muscles relax!!!!
A beautirul video Kylie. I love watching your little son he is so interested in everthing that is going on.
Love every video. Thanks you for all you do. For sharing such beautiful images and your experiences. Blessings to you and your family.
Thank you so much. Blessings to you. 🥰
Your work touches me to the core this one especially, you and your Dad, sweet baby boy so curious of everything, lovely times in life to cherish, that’s what your work sparks in me almost to tears so sweet our life is. Thank you ❣️❣️🇺🇸❣️❣️🇮🇹
I’m so touched to read this, Joyce. 🥰
I vote for the trellis to remain below the upper window. Lovely video, as always! Thank you dear.
I love watching your family work together. There's no doubt where you get your work ethic! When I grow up I want to be your father. Simply amazing! Please have him share his secrets, your mother too. Beautiful all around.
I love seeing the renovation; decoration; nature… adorable ♥️
What a beautiful video. hard work pays off. Your parents are wonderful to offer help & experience in gardening. The vegetable garden outlay is fabulous. You are so fortunate to have such a beautiful child-helper too. So precious. ❤🫶
I love to see your son in the garden together wait you Kylie in your father . Thank you very much to share this amazing family time together outside work in the garden I love watching❤❤❤❤❤❤
Lovely way to wake up in the US... to a video of your family working the land that God has blessed you with. What a delightful way to prepare for summer!
You are soooooo great with all that work you do , your son is adorable 🥰 God bless you and your family and your wonderful parents
How lucky to have help-from your parents.👍😄❤️
Kylie the gardens are such a fabulous addition. I kept chuckling with every grunt. I'm a grunted too when I do strenuous work. Love it.
God bless your father! He is such a help to you and Guido🩷
Vegie garden beds are perfection. So much work, so worth it. And little one watching and learning ~ adorable.
Kylie, thank you for sharing your talent(s) and blessing us with such beautiful videos! They bring such peace to a world so full of pain right now. You remind us "to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life" (Thoreau) with every video you post. God Bless you! Thank you!
So beautiful a garden what a gift and watching your baby is so precious . Your property is amazing , the views are just breathtaking. Such hard work but so rewarding
Kylie your talents are just spectacular. Thank for this beautiful piece.🍀
Thank YOU for making time for me.
Beautiful video. Lovely music. Gianfranco is quite the gardener-in-training! ❤👍🏼☮️😘
Your son is a big helper, even if he is just watching out for his Nono!
A beautiful relaxing video of a sweet family and the hard work you all did. Looks great. John Franco is adorable helping you all. Thank you 😊
Such a treat to find your new video this rainy morning in England! Best wishes to you Kylie and your family. ❤
Your little guy is such a great helper! So darn cute! ❤
I look forward to your videos. They are so beautiful, peaceful and artistic. What hard work you and your dad did in the new garden beds. John Franco ( I apologize for misspelling your sweet little boy’s name), he is such a helper and seems very gentle and kind already. 🥰
I’m so glad you look forward to them. I edit late at night thinking of people just like you. 👩🏼💻
Everything looks so nice. Your voice sounds very tired, Kylie. I hope you are getting some rest. Take care.
What a lovely video, Kylie! I saved it for the weekend and you dropped another one so now shall enjoy two!! So much to enjoy in this video, Kylie. The relationship with you and your dad. Watching you as you ‘mother’. The scenery, the food, and the 🎶…all lovely! Thank you so much. Glad you are feeling better❤
Seeing little Gianfranco involved in all the family’s activities you realize that small children don’t need a whole pile of toys when they’re so many everyday items to keep them amused just by participating.
I also loved the John Ruskin quote on Work in your lead-in. I hunger for mor philosophical content of this sort in your videos…
What great parents you have! I hope your son inherits your families work ethic. I grew up around farms with people who worked liked this all the time & theyre the best people you'll ever meet.
Thank you for the wonderful views of Tuscany ! Thanks for you work! Looking forward to the next Video.❤😊Health for the whole family.
Beautiful video Kylie!! ❤❤ The amazing scenery and breath pure fresh air, I just want to go and live there :) But, your cute son stole the show, looking him helping in the garden was so tender.
Kylie, I love your videos. I am almost sure the music in this video is one of Yanni‘s. He’s a composer, Song writer and known around the world. He makes beautiful music.!
You are so lucky you're parents are the best 💓 so happy for you.
Congratulations on your new vegetable patch, such hard work. Wishing you luscious vegetables for delicious meals. Best wishes for a good week ahead 🙏 💖
What a blessing your parents are to you . I think there's nothing they can't do!
Beautiful photography! The gardens look amazing, I look forward to seeing the meals you will prepare, of course, with your little helper!
Hi KYLIE❤, TY for another beautiful video..😊bellismo❤great back breaking work on new garden..you and ur daddy are awesome, NON-STOP ENERGY.❤ wisterie is stunning.. Lattice by door, perfecto..❤feel better. And ❤to ur family and TUSCANY.❤ HAPPY E🐣 🗿 🐰 🐣.. TY for sharing.❤😊❤ Ciao bella❤....
Your family and home is so lovely. Fills me with peace to have a glimpse of your life.
That soil is the classic glacial moraine of stone and clay.
Hello! Your videos are so beautifully produced and such thoughtfully created. So beautiful, I love living vicariously through each one. I dream of living in the countryside with a large garden one day! Hopefully I can go back to my roots in Italy! 💕
Your precious boy is such a good helper! ❤
How very satisfying, though so much work, to dig and plant new garden beds. You all worked together so well, including Gianfranco. Looking forward to watching your new gardens grow and the harvest they will yield. Your property is looking so beautiful this spring - trees in bloom and the hills in the richest green. It's heaven on earth.
Your baby is sooooooo smart and cute 🥰. Thank you for giving the best gift 🎁….your presence, attention, the ability to enjoy the small things, thank you Kylie. Lots of love to you and your beautiful family ❤❤❤❤❤
I think another trellis would be so pretty (horizontally) above the door. Your property is beautiful.