House Hunters International Update
The day has finally arrived. Well, almost. On Monday February 16th our episode of House Hunters International will be broadcast in the US. It goes out at 10:30 pm eastern (9:30 pm central) and again at 1:30 am (12:30 am central).
I’m so excited that the episode is finally being aired, although I’m a little nervous that we haven’t seen it yet. The network is sending us a DVD but we won’t have it for another four weeks. You guys in the US will get to see it before we do so I’ll be relying on you to reassure me that we came over ok! I squirm every time I see myself on camera – perhaps it’s better that I don’t see it first. For those not in the US I will post the video to YouTube as soon as I get it (assuming I get permission from the production company).
The blurb for the episode reads:
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An Irish woman and a Lithuanian man met and fell in love in Dublin and soon married, but the hectic pace of life in Dublin has worn thin, and they both long for a more rural existence, which they believe they can have in Lithuania.
The episode has been over a year in the making, including a wonderful shoot last September. It covers our tour of Europe in our camper van and our eventual decision to settle down here in Lithuania. You will see the house both before and after the renovations. I’ve included all four videos of the house below for those who might not have seen them.
My very first TV appearance – wish me luck!
Project House: A History (with videos)
Project House: Part 1 – The Original House
Project House: Part 2 – The Tour
Project House: Part 3 – The Transformation
Project House: Part 4 – The Reveal
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Hi I am from Cape town South Africa I would like to buy your campervan when I come to Europe next month ..would u sell it …simply love what u ave done to your home
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Hi Dominic. I’m afraid we sold the camper van a long time ago! I’m sure you will pick one up quite quickly here, though, especially if you shop in France, Germany or Italy. I would avoid a right-hand drive as it’s the wrong way round for most of Europe. Enjoy your trip!
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Ok the show is at it’s end and what a great choice. You two did a great job on it too. Congratulations.
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I am watching your HH episode in reruns now. I heard you say you have a blog so I looked you up. Can’t wait to see what home you pick. I am not looking at any of the rest of your blog till the show is over so I can be surprised at the house you chose. As soon as it ends I’ll check out your whole blog.
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Hi Sue! Thanks for coming and finding us. Hope you like our choice and what we did with the place! The show kinda skips how our renovation process so be sure to check out our renovation videos – if you click on Videos in the menu above you’ll see them.
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I did check out the videos and your house is lovely. You and your husband did a great job.
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Loved this! I’m half Lithuanian – my dad’s parents are from there. It was so interesting! Plus I like that you want to simplify and live over the land. Adding your blog to my reader now 🙂
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Thanks Elena! Not sure if you’ve been to Lithuania before but if you haven’t you should definitely put it on your list. I’m think it would be a great place to train, especially in summer. And the food is amazing!
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You will have to link an online streaming site for everyone in a separate post.
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I very much enjoyed your show! You and your husband presented yourselves as very pleasant, kind and interesting people. And you seemed so sweet with each other, very nice to watch! It was such a fun show to watch …I think so many of us dream of the kind of life you have made for yourselves.i will certainly start to follow your blog. Very best wishes to you both!
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Thanks Gail. Making dreams a reality is not always easy but we’re certainly enjoying the process. 🙂
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Just watched your episode last night! And now here you are liking one of my posts! You and your husband did a great job – i personally thought it was one of the more interesting HHI’s – but then again i may be biased towards agriculture/country. 😉
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Ha – that’s funny! Small world, eh! Glad you enjoyed the episode. I haven’t seen it yet but I reckon it’s a bit different from the usual “place in the sun” type. Thanks for dropping by!
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Really enjoyed your episode of house hunters international. I was thinking that they should have done a “house hunters renovation” episode with you and your hubby and then I found your blog and watched all the videos – loved it! Enjoying the blog too.
One thing you’ll find as a homeowner – there is always something else to do! Much happiness in your new home.
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Hi Pat. You’re so right – there’s always something to be done around the house. I love that, though – makes me feel like I’ve earned it when I sit down to relax at the end of the day. Delighted you enjoyed the show and the videos!
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What an adventure! Lithuania is simply beautiful. I’m going to follow your blog. Love your recipes and instructions. I’m half lithuanian and hope to visit one day. Adorable couple!
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Thank you Susan! Hope you enjoy the recipes. If there are any Lithuanian recipes from your past that you would like to see featured on the blog please do let me know. Lithuania is really beautiful – you’ll love it if you come.
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Hi June! I just wanted you to know I am a huge fan of House Hunters International and just saw your episode. I dream of traveling in Europe and abroad and admire your adventuresome spirit. Since I found your blog I am excited to follow your adventures in Lithuania. Peace and God bless from Houston, TX!
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Hi Robin! Delighted you enjoyed the show and that you found the blog. Hope you enjoy it. Never made it as far as Houston when I lived in TX – it’s on the list for next time! Take care, J.
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Would you consider building a guest house or having a bed -and -breakfast? Looks like a great place to visit…your beautiful home/village might become a traveler’s destination!
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A cooking school!
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Another excellent idea! I could have that as an add-on to the B&B idea. We could go and collect eggs and fresh vegetables from the garden and then cook them up in my lovely new kitchen! Wanna come stay?!
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Hi Jone. We’ve actually considered both ideas. At the moment we don’t have the money for a second property but as soon as the upstairs bathroom is complete we will definitely consider taking B&B guests. Our village is ideal for lots of different types of travelers – walkers, hunters, painters, writers, as well as those exploring Lithuania or this part of Europe. Taking care of guests is what I trained for! Plus, we’re multilingual and have lots of local knowledge, so it would seem like a good use of our skills. Watch this space! 🙂
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Not to bring up a sore subject…but what kind of tub was that in the house before you renovated the bathroom? I laughed out loud when you looked at it in horror and then said something like, “This will have to go.”
Also, I couldn’t help but think how like my recommended nutrition plan your cooking is. I’m a 1 and 1/2 year cancer survivor whose recommended diet includes lots of fresh food and home cooking…just like the food you make.
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Oh, Jone – that bath was something else! I’m sure it was beautiful in its day but the enamel had been almost completely scratched off and it just looked so dirty. The legs were also broken and I think it was balancing on a few bricks!
I’m so happy to hear your diet is working for your health. I like to think I always ate well but I really started to pay attention to processed foods when my own mam was diagnosed with cancer. Since then I’ve been slowly weeding them out and trying to make as much as I can from scratch with fresh ingredients. Quite apart from any health benefits I love how it tastes!
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Can you describe the health care system there? Do you have ready access to good health care?
I just love how you and your husband thoughtfully renovated your house. You seemed to coax it into becoming what it wants and needs to be now. Have any neighbors or former occupants commented on your home?
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I’ve been very lucky so far not to have much need for health care but what I have seen is very modern, clean and efficient. And inexpensive! A dental check with a full clean costs about €20. You can get a full blood work-up, which I think includes about 20 different tests, for €35. There are pharmacies everywhere and the pharmacists are very knowledgeable. Many medicines are available over the counter as long as the pharmacist feels they are appropriate for your needs. They only drawback I can think of is that most of the medical people I dealt with didn’t speak English, so if you didn’t speak Lithuanian or have a companion who did, things might be tricky.
There are six matching houses on our “block” that were all built at the same time. A few people have renovated theirs but not to the extent that we did. Anyone that has seen ours has loved what we’ve done, especially with the kitchen and sun room overlooking the countryside. The former occupant was 92 when we bought the house from her. I would love her to come and visit to see if she approves of what we did. I think she loved it the way it was, though – it was her little home!
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Great episode! Lovely people and very nice transformation.
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Okay, now I can read all your posts with your Irish accent in my mind, lol. Your television show was wonderful. Loved it. The Lithuanian countryside is beautiful. I can see why you fell in love with it. Also hard work doesn’t seem to daunt you two. I did have to laugh at your expression when you saw that bathroom in the second house. Holy moly. Talk about a fixer upper. Thing was a horror, lol. You picked our favorite property, far and away. We were stunned by the prices, here the land alone would cost $250,000. You sure did a beautiful job. Congratulations all around. It’s now a place to call home.
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Oy! What’s wrong with my accent?! It was so funny when we were filming – the crew were all from England and couldn’t get over the fact that Arūnas also had an Irish accent. Sure, why wouldn’t he – he learned most of his English from me! That bathroom was pretty horrific – you practically had to back onto the loo and it was so dark. I love the huge window with lots of light in the new bathroom. Yeh, the prices are great. It’s one if the reasons we settled here – our money just goes much further. Delighted you enjoyed it!
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lol. Nothing wrong with your accent. Funny how we never think WE have an accent. When I was home with my British family they teased me that I talked so sloooowwwww, like John Wayne. I took exception to that. I’m not from Texas. I’m a Californian girl. Yeah, I love the light in your new house too. It’s what makes it so special. You brought it into all the rooms, that and the view. 🙂
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Labądien, did they happen to mention, to you when your episode will air in Canada?
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Labas Romai. No, they didn’t mention Canada but if I find out I’ll post as a reply to your comment. I hope to put it on YouTube in a few weeks. Again, I’ll update here when I do. Aciu!
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Labas June,
My famliy and I enjoy the show, however we always seem to lag behind the States for whatever reason. I have looked on the Canadian site but can find no information, on the air date. Thank you very much for your reply! I have read and enjoyed your blog, look forward to reading more, Love and miss Lietuva.
All the best to you and your husband, iki,
Romas
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I always watch House Hunters International and saw your great episode last night. Today I decided to find your blog. I have some Lithuanian ancestry, so was interested to see the countryside. I still think of it as part of Russia and a little less modern but it looks lovely. I see the 16th was Lithuanian Independence Day. What a great day to have your segment air in the US on TV. Hope you and your husband continue to live your dream happily ever after!
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Thank you, Ruth! I’m not sure if it was planned on the part of the production team or just a coincidence that the show aired on Lithuania’s Independence Day, but I thought it was a lovely addition, especially if you have Lithuanian heritage. Thanks for checking out the blog – hope you enjoy it!
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I watched it last night, you two were great! You seem to have found the perfect house and transformed it into a beautiful home. And I love your little barn, definitely room for a few goats there 🙂
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Thanks Julie! We just finished clearing out a nice space in that barn. We have the hens in part of it for the winter, but we have enough space now for either a few goats or a few pigs. Just have to work on hubs a bit to convince him! 😉
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I just watched your episode of House Hunters–it was great! It’s so refreshing to see a couple going after their passion and what they love. I’m in the Deep South of the US (Alabama), so your way of living is drastically different from mine! They showed your beetroot soup at the end of the episode so I immediately googled around to find your blog bc I had to know what kind of food could be hot pink! 😃
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Thanks Laura! We really do love our life here. That soup is so typical in Lithuania but I can see how it would look very strange to others! The taste is quite mild – so nice on a hot day. If you try it let me know what you think!
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I love house hunters, and I watch it with my niece, Trinity, in Dallas, every time we can. 🙂 But, I have never thought to look up the people on the show before now. My niece, who is proud of her Irish heritage as much as her 7th generation Texan heritage, just loved y’all!
She told me to find your blog and to see how y’all are doing back in your hubby’s Lithuania. 🙂
The show was very well done and your lives look like a wonderful adventure…good luck to y’all! We have signed up to your blog and hope good things come to you! 🙂
Kindest Regards!
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Thank you! I used to live in Texas a long time ago – in Austin. I loved it there. It’s very different here in Lithuania, though. Think I need to get myself a pair of ropers and a big hat to go with my new country girl lifestyle!
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Just watched it in the US and enjoyed it – I dream of country living and I LOVE what you’ve done with that house! Right now I am snowed in living in the “snowiest city in the United States” Worcester Massachusetts where we have had 70 inches of snow so far this winter. It made me so happy to see gardens growing! Hope your winter is going well and enjoy your house! It’s beautiful!
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Thanks Michelle. Our winter has actually been quite tame – we had very little snow. While I missed having that lovely, white landscape, hopefully it means the ground will warm up earlier than usual so I can get a head-start on my veg planting. Enjoy your beautiful snowy winter!
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Hi, My name is Rebekah and I just watched your episode of International househunters. I was so impressed by you and your husband. You are so positive and seem like a genuinely kind person. It was wonderful to see the life you are building in Lithuania. Just wanted to reach out and tell you that you are quite inspiring. Good luck in all your endeavors!
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Thanks Rebekah- you’re very kind!
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No worries; you looked great! The area is so beautiful. $30,000 for a house? And how you transformed it is truly spectacular! Congrats:)
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Thanks Jennifer. Yeh, property is pretty good value here, especially if you’re prepared to do a bit of work. We’re very happy with the final result!
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I saw the episode and loved it! As a German expat in the US that had lived in Ireland for a bit and loves to cook I had to google your blog. 🙂 You guys have done an amazing job with the house!!
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Thanks Sandra! Your own story looks very interesting – from organic farm to big city. It’s almost the reverse of ours! 🙂
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YEA! I happened to be checking my Directv listing this afternoon and came across it before I even seen this post. I was excited. I recorded it as I am not feeling up to watching it tonight. Am going to have to go to bed pretty quickly. Just wanted to run through my emails to see if you had a post on it so I could say I found it! I am excited to watch it. 🙂
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Thanks Cheryll! Hope you enjoy it!
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I did like it! I was disappointed it was only 30 minutes. I was ready for a long show of renovations too. The house looks wonderful and was a good buy for you. You both looked relaxed and at ease. I loved listening to both of your accents. I love hearing different dialects and accents. You don’t get all of that just by reading a blog. 🙂
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I can’t believe it’s only 30 minutes! It took 5 days to film! Oh, well. Lucky I have my own renovations videos as back-up, eh! Yeh, hearing a person speak puts them in a new light, doesn’t it? You just can’t pick up the subtleties of their personality from their writing alone. Delighted you enjoyed it!
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Congratulations! How exciting. I love that show 🙂
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Thanks Kirsten! I really am quite excited now – it’s tomorrow!
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I will have to DVR it 🙂
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Hey June, I just finished watching the episode! It was great! I love the house you all picked. The kitchen looks so much better after you all renovated it. I did like th sauna in the other house, but the bedrooms and price were awful. Congrats on your very first television appearance. I don’t think it will be your last though. One day you will have your own food show 🙂
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Yay! We’ll be tuning in. Looking forward to it. I have not a single doubt you two will shine!
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I’ll have to ask one of my friends to DVR it for me – but very much looking forward to seeing this! 🙂
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Wooooooot! Well done … it will be glorious and you will shine, I am sure 🙂
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I hope so! I don’t like looking at myself in photos, never mind on TV!
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Makes me wish I had US cable.
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Me too! 🙂
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How exciting! I’m going to set my DVR to record it!
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Well I’ll be on a transatlantic flight Monday night, so I will have to set my DVR to record it for me. Looking forward to watching it when I’m back from the UK!
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So cool! Congrats! Can’t wait to see it! 🙂
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Looking forward to it…who knows where thid could lead! “Break a Leg” as they might say in Hollywood. 🙂
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