The Irish summer isn’t exactly known for its scorching temperatures and dazzling sunshine. In fact, sometimes you’d be forgiven for thinking it was already mid-October. But even so, these last few days, it’s felt like the season is turning – the breezes are cooler, and the sun is showing its face a little later in the morning, and turning in a little earlier every evening.
But that’s okay, because that means that sweater season is just around the corner… And as a knitter, I’m excited that my favourite woollies are nearly ready to be hauled out of storage and paraded around the town again!
However, it appears I’m not the only one who’s looking forward to chilly days and cosy knits! Some sweater-loving Beasties have been out and about a little early too!
The summery mallow flowers might be in full bloom, but Woolly Jumper Beastie loves her stylish purple sweater too much to take it off! Still, it’s actually a pretty good piece of kit for an active, adventurous Beastie – its natty top-down construction keeps seam bulk to a minimum and gives her plenty of wiggle room!
And doesn’t that purple match this plant’s flowers perfectly?
And this isn’t the only Beastie in the garden today… Who’s that hiding in the undergrowth?
Hey there, Redhead Beastie! She’s a Barróg Beastie (one made with 100% Irish wool), which might explain why she’s drawn to all that greenery!
In keeping with her Celtic roots, she’s sporting an Aran-style sweater, also made from Irish wool yarn! And check out her hair – I really must find out what products she’s using to get all that wonderful VOLUME!
Redhead Beastie also wanted a picture with the mallow flowers, so I was happy to give her a lift and save her the long climb up from ground level!
Too pretty!
I’m glad these Beasties are so taken with their outfits… Believe me, there was much anticipation as I was getting them ready!
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You can find out more about these two Beasties by checking out the links below!
Woolly Jumper Beastie
Redhead Beastie
Do you have a favourite? Or are there any new Beasties you’d like to see landing over the next couple of weeks? Let me know in the comments!
Speaking of comments, an eagle-eyed reader (thanks, Tammie!) has pointed out to me that since I changed up the BeastieBlog a couple of weeks back, it’s no longer possible to comment on my posts from the WordPress Reader. I’ve checked with WordPress, and this is actually a technical glitch in their system, rather than a dictatorial attempt on my part to silence critics of the Beastie regime. I still love getting feedback from you all, and you can still leave it – you’ll just need to view the site online, rather than visiting through Reader. There’s also an option on the site to sign up and receive post notifications by email, so you’ll never miss an update again!
We’ll be back next Tuesday with another Paddy and Plunkett escapade – I wonder where they’ll be popping up this time? See you then!
See you again soon, lads!
Delicious! Burger Beastie seems to be especially enjoying the whole picnicking experience.
Well, not exactly. A fen is an area of marshy ground, and they’re pretty prone to flooding. While many of the fens in this super-flat part of eastern England were drained to create extra farmland in the 17th century, in the Bronze Age these places would have been tricky enough to navigate. Too wet to walk, too shallow for a boat… GAAAAAAAH! What to do?
… And what Plunkett is looking at in the first photo is only a fraction of what is actually there. The whole causeway is more than a kilometre long, and the platform is the size of Wembley Stadium!
These bronze finds – mostly weapons – intriguingly show signs of having been deliberately damaged, and their positioning in the silty ground suggests that they were intentionally dropped there, rather than carelessly chucked away because they were broken. This implies that the causeway was a place of ritual significance, as well as (possibly) being a handy way of getting across Flag Fen!
Meanwhile, Paddy was trying on some wooden beakers for size… Because, well, that’s what Paddy does.
The lads also rested their weary paws on this rather spectacular chair – we think it might be made of bog oak, preserved timber that has been coloured and hardened by years of sitting in the acidic water of the marshes!
Unfortunately, Paddy had less success with this replica dugout canoe…
“Row faster, Plunkett! It feels like we’re not moving at all!
It’s really been quite a trip!
According to Plunkett’s research, this cathedral is more than 900 years old (construction started in 1096) and boasts the second tallest spire in England – a fitting landmark for a city that, in the 11th century, was second only to London in size and importance. Shall we wander over for a closer look?
Talk about making an entrance! This is one of two gates into the cathedral grounds. It’s called St Ethelbert’s Gate, and it actually used to contain a chapel to its namesake in its second storey. And although it looks like the real deal, this isn’t the original gate! It’s a 14th century rebuild, after the first one was destroyed in the riot of 1272.
However, like many visitors, they weren’t able to agree on the new stained glass windows. They were designed by English abstract artist John McLean, and were installed on the north aisle in 2014. Apparently they’ve been causing controversy ever since!
Paddy loves the rich colours, and the way the bright light bounces around this corridor, which he thought would be pretty dark and boring otherwise. On the other hand, Plunkett really would have preferred to see something more traditional, and in keeping with the rest of the building. Whose side are you on?
Although there’s little concrete information about her life, Julian of Norwich is still considered an important mystic and theologian. Her account of her religious visions, “Revelations of Divine Love” is thought to be the first book written in English by a female author! She lived out her days in a small cell in a church on this site, and her only contact with the outside world was through two small windows – one into the church, and the other looking onto St Julian’s Alley outside. Members of the public could pass by and ask Mother Julian for advice, and I think it’s fair to presume that she was called upon to settle a few disagreements in her time!
Fortunately, this beautiful Art Nouveau arcade has enough architectural interest to keep Plunkett entertained too!
“Not just any old stone wall, my friends! A stone wall made with the hard-wearing local flint! Beautiful! Incredible!”
I reckon there’s room in all that fancy stonework for a Beastie-shaped addition – what do you think?
I called this little woolly dude “Lucky Guy Beastie”, because he was made for the winner of the prize draw I ran on my 
The jacket is also removable, of course!
Next, he needed a backpack… and I snuck a tasty cheese sandwich in here, in case this little monster gets hungry on his travels!
Finally, I completed his kit with a Beastie-sized watch…
… And he was ready to go!
That said, Ismail thought that his Beastie might get lonely all by himself… So he asked if I could make him a companion. Done and done!
While Ismail is here in Dublin studying, his girlfriend is still at home in Indonesia. Fortunately, her Beastie counterpart was ready just in time to be shared via videochat on her birthday!
You might also have noticed her nice little knitted cardigan, which can be taken off on hot days…
… And which is my second top-down knitted garment! (My first was the “first draft” of this, which turned out a little too big after blocking and was subsequently pinched by Explorer Beastie. I’m starting to wonder if he maybe had a 
Incidentally, I owe a big thank you to Shirley at 
Congratulations again to Ismail, and I hope you like your new monster friends!
