Making Time for A Day Out

It’s been a while since we’ve seen Paddy and Plunkett, hasn’t it? But that doesn’t mean they haven’t been out and about… In fact, an email from them landed in just recently! Let’s find out what they’ve been up to, shall we?

Paddy and the Sundial - CrawCrafts Beasties

Aha! There’s Paddy now… With a sundial. What time is it showing, Paddy?

“Um… Cloudy!”

Fair enough. A sundial in Ireland has a pretty limited operating window, even in summer! I wonder where Plunkett has got to?

Paddy, Plunkett and the multi-dial sundial - Carnfunnock Country Park - CrawCrafts Beasties

Oh, there he is. With… Another sundial!

“Look at this, Paddy! This multi-dial sundial can be used at any time of the year, with one dial for British Summer Time and a second to use in the winter. I think summer time is on the side where you’re standing – what time is it?”

“Ummmm… Still cloudy!”

Oh well, at least they can appreciate the different designs and shapes. And it turns out that this place is full of ever more intricate sundials… We’re in The Time Garden at Carnfunnock Country Park, right here:

This next sundial is more like a sculpture!

Cut Cube Sundial in the Time Garden, Carnfunnock Country Park - CrawCrafts Beasties

“The Cut Cube Dial has angles cut into its sides, and the shadows cast by these allow you to read the time on a series of diagonal markings on the cube’s faces.”

“Plunkett, this is all getting very complicated!”

But it doesn’t stop there. Look at this one!

The Armillary Sphere at Carnfunnock Time Garden - CrawCrafts Beasties

Neither of the Beasties is sure where to even begin telling the time on this one, the Armillary Sphere. Plunkett goes to have another look at the information board.

“Okay! To read the time, we look at the shadow on the numbered ring created by the gnomon…”

“The what?”

“The metal bar across the middle.”

“Right. I’ll go up and see if that helps.”

Paddy interprets the Armillary Sphere - Carnfunnock Time Garden - CrawCrafts Beasties

“Make sure you’re reading the gnomon’s shadow, Paddy, not the shadow of one of the rings! Then we can find today’s date on the outer zodiac ring, add or subtract the number of minutes it says there, and then…”

“Plunkett, I think I finally know what time it is!”

“Really?”

“Yep! It’s LUNCHTIME!”

Well, at least Paddy’s stomach can be relied upon to keep time, even on the cloudiest of days. Bon appetit, Beasties, and we’ll see you again soon!

Paddy and Plunkett in the Sunny South West

The boys are back in town… But which town?

The sunny seaside town of St Ives - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

Paddy is instantly sold.

“I like the look of this place – where are we, Plunkett?”

Fortunately, Plunkett remembered to bring along the travel guide.

“I think we’re in St Ives! Here, look.”

“The book says that St Ives has long been a popular place for artists to live and work, thanks to the special quality of the light here. I think I see what they mean…”

Paddy, as ever, is less concerned with the light and more interested in getting to the heart of the action.

“C’mon then! Let’s take a closer look!”

Harbour at St Ives, Cornwall - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

Down at the harbour, Plunkett is enraptured. I think he might consider sticking around here and joining the St Ives School of artists himself at this rate.

“Wow, what a beautiful place! And look at that sky!”

Paddy’s eye is caught by something else.

“What beautiful boats! I wonder if…”

Oh no, Paddy. Let’s just nip that idea in the bud right now. We can’t have him attempting to commandeer any more vessels on this trip. Into town we go!

Paddy and Plunkett in St Ives - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

And the town doesn’t disappoint either, with its winding streets, pretty stone buildings, AND…

Plunkett at the Wool Shop, St Ives - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

… A WOOL SHOP!

Plunkett just had to stop and pick out some supplies for his next project. Or projects! He usually has a couple of things on the go.

Fortunately, someone was keeping an eye on the clock.

“Plunkett! PLUNKETT! The humans are going to leave without us! Hurry up!”

And that leaves ME wondering what weird parallel universe the boys have fallen into, where Paddy is the responsible one… Hopefully normal service will resume next week, with some new Beastie friends for you to meet! See you then!

Famous Feet on St Michael’s Mount

Hello everyone! Last week, we left Paddy and Plunkett pondering the local property market here at St Michael’s Mount, in Cornwall…

However, over the last 7 days, they appear to have had a change of heart.

“I think this is more our style, Paddy. What do you reckon?”

Paddy and Plunkett at the cottages, St Michael's Mount - CrawCrafts Beasties

Aren’t they lovely? These pretty little houses are the homes of the people who look after the castle and its gardens throughout the year. And Paddy seems to approve, too.

“I like these! And look… A tractor! I wonder if they’ll let me take it for a test drive?”

Most of the residents also have their own small boats, which are moored in the island’s harbour.

The harbour at St Michael's Mount - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

Now Paddy can’t decide what to do.

“Oh, and I’d love a go in one of these as well! Who do I ask? Or maybe I’ll just hop into one, and…”

Fortunately, Plunkett has found something to distract Paddy from his plans to commandeer one of those vessels. It seems the boys aren’t the only notable visitors the island has had!

Famous Feet on St Michael's Mount - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

“Human footprints! But why are they metal?”

“Because they were made by some very famous feet, Paddy. Here, look…”

Royal Footprints on St Michael's Mount - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

And further along, there were more to see!

More famous feet - Paddy and Plunkett - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

But just as Paddy was planning where to place his OWN metal paw print (and accompanying plaque), Plunkett noticed that the island had started to become a lot busier.

St Michael's Mount gets busy! H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

“Come on, Paddy! Time to head on to our next adventure!”

Oooooh, where will they end up next? You’ll have to stay tuned to find out! In the meantime, I’ve a new Beastie for you all to meet next week, so be sure to join us then!

Monsters on St Michael’s Mount

It’s been a while since we last checked in with Paddy and Plunkett, hasn’t it? If memory serves, last time we watched them clamber into a nearby knitting bag…

Plunkett Joins Paddy - Beastie Adventures - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

… In the hope that it would whisk them off on an exciting new adventure. Well, it looks like their patience has finally paid off!

Paddy and Plunkett at St Michael's Mount

“That’s some view, Plunkett! Where exactly are we?”

Fortunately, Plunkett has read the travel guide.

“It’s St Michael’s Mount, Paddy. Look, we’re here…”

“Ohhhh, okaaaaay! Hey, is that a castle up there on the hill?”

St Michael's Mount, Cornwall

“It certainly is! And the same family has been living in it for nearly 400 years. The original castle dates back to the 12th century, but some extra architectural bits and bobs were tacked on in the 17th and 18th centuries. Before that, the island was the site of a monastery, possibly from as early as the 8th century.”

“Wow, so this is OLD! Can we go in for a closer look?”

“Yes… Luckily the tide is out, so we can toddle across this beautiful man-made causeway. Or maybe hitch a lift from one of these nice people…”

The Causeway at St Michael's Mount

“Hang on, what do you mean ‘luckily, the tide is out’? What if the tide’s in?”

“Well, St Michael’s Mount is an island at high tide, so the causeway would be underwater.”

“And…”

“And we’d be swimming over!”

“Ah. Better off this way, so.”

Paddy was even more impressed with the castle at close quarters.

The castle on St Michael's Mount - Paddy and Plunkett - CrawCrafts Beasties

“This looks like my kind of place, Plunkett! Do you reckon they would like to adopt a little woolly monster?”

But Plunkett was lost in his own thoughts. He felt the nice, warm breeze on his face, and noticed the tropical plants that grow outdoors here all year round.

Tropical St Michael's Mount - Paddy and Plunkett -CrawCrafts Beasties

“Hmmmm… Or maybe they’d like to adopt TWO little woolly monsters!”

Join us again next week, when Paddy and Plunkett will be exploring St Michael’s Mount a little more… And maybe making plans to move in!

Paddy uses Plunkett as a ladder - Beastie Adventures - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

New Adventures Ahoy!

Hello there Beastie friends! How are things where you are? Here on the Emerald Isle, we’re getting ready to start opening things up again… And I know two intrepid little monsters who are looking forward to setting out on some new adventures this summer!

Sure, they’ve enjoyed their virtual travels over the last few months…
Paddy and Plunkett's Virtual Tour - CrawCrafts Beasties… But it’s not really a substitute for the real thing, is it?

So that’s probably why they started hatching travel plans the very second they spotted this unattended knitting bag.

“That looks like it might be going somewhere interesting! What do you reckon?”
Paddy and Plunkett Plotting - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“Possibly, Paddy… But how on earth are we going to get up there? Normally the humans leave their bags on the floor.”

“Don’t worry, Plunkett…”
Paddy has an idea - Beastie Adventures - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“… I have a cunning plan!”

Unfortunately, Plunkett didn’t realise that this cunning plan involved using him as a stepladder.
Paddy uses Plunkett as a ladder - Beastie Adventures - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“Ouch! Paddy, you’re going to have to start going easy on the Full Irish breakfasts… You weigh a TON!”
“Neeeeearly there. Hold steady, Plunkett!”

Finally…
Paddy Climbs Up - Beastie Adventures - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“Success!”
“That’s all well and good for you, Paddy. How do I get up there?”
“I told you, I have a plan. Hold on a sec…”

Paddy's Plan, Part 2 - Beastie Adventures - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

“Here you go! Now climb up.”
“Oooh, very clever!”

Plunkett Joins Paddy - Beastie Adventures - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

And much huffing and puffing later…

Ready to go? H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

“There, I knew you could do it!”
“…”
Ah. Sounds like Plunkett was still catching his breath. So Paddy packed all the wool back into the knitting bag, making a nice cosy place for them both to hide.

“Where do you think we’re off to, Paddy?”
“I’m not sure…”

Let the adventures begin! H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

“… But I bet it’s going to be fun!”

Hopefully they won’t have to wait too long for the adventures to begin! Have you any interesting journeys in your future? Be sure to tell us all about them in the comments!

We’ll be back next week to catch up with Explorer Beastie. I’m sure he’s got some adventures up his woolly little sleeves too!

Famous Tomb - Paddy and Plunkett - CrawCrafts Beasties

Paddy and Plunkett – Russian Around!

Hey there everyone! It’s just going to be a quickie post today… Mostly to clear up the mystery of where in the world Paddy and Plunkett were last week. Did you guess?
A Famous Cathedral - Paddy and Plunkett - CrawCrafts BeastiesA good few of you got it right! Plunkett had indeed got his woolly paws on the photos of the short Russian adventure I enjoyed with my good friend and travel buddy, waaay back in 2012. We spent a fun couple of days exploring Moscow, which included wandering through the labyrinthine interior of St Basil’s Cathedral, pictured above.

We also went inside the walls of the Kremlin…
Still Cold - Paddy and Plunkett - CrawCrafts Beasties… To see the treasures of the Armoury Museum. That, by the way, includes the Russian Diamond Fund, or “more sparkly things than I have ever seen in my life.”

Oh, and this place?
Famous Tomb - Paddy and Plunkett - CrawCrafts BeastiesThis is Lenin’s Mausoleum, and like Paddy, we went in! The embalmed body of Lenin lies in state inside, protected by some very serious, very armed soldiers. Keeping a respectful distance is… um… encouraged, and lookie-loos will find themselves moved on promptly if they stop to stare. Like us, Paddy was probably in and out in five minutes, so Plunkett wouldn’t have been standing out in the snow too long!

That said, he’s decided he needs to warm up a little this week.

On the Beach - Paddy and Plunkett
Original Photo by Asad Photo Maldives from Pexels. Guess who added the Beasties in 😉

I can’t imagine those woollies and tweeds will be particularly comfortable though, so we should probably cut and run while the lads are still decent!

By the way…

If you feel like your own post-lockdown adventures would be enhanced by the addition of a little woolly friend to your travel party, just swing by the Beastie HQ store! There’s a whole host of monsters in there who can’t wait to get out and explore the world.

All-Irish Beasties - CrawCrafts BeastiesAlso, a quick word about commissions – unfortunately my books are currently full, so I won’t be taking any new custom orders until May 25th. For anyone who has been in touch with me already (through email or social media), don’t worry!  You’re all set, and your Beastification is in progress. And if you’re looking ahead to the summer, and think you’d like to have a Beastie to help celebrate a wedding, birthday or other big occasion, be sure to reach out nice and early so your lil’ monster buddy is ready in time.

We’ll be back next week with a new Beastie for you all to meet… See you then!

Plunkett on the Square - CrawCrafts Beasties

Where in the World are Paddy and Plunkett?

Hey there everyone! Well, Paddy and Plunkett are finally back from their last trip
Paddy Driving, Plunkett Leaving - Paddy, Plunkett and Perseverance… So I thought it was time to reboot this occasional feature and send them off on their (imaginary) travels again. We have to keep them entertained, after all.

Ready? Let’s go – where in the world are you, Paddy and Plunkett?
Still Cold - Paddy and Plunkett - CrawCrafts Beasties“Not sure… But wherever it is, it’s still chilly here. Even at this time of year!”
“Yes, I’m glad I’ve got my cosy sweater on. Brrrrr!”

Okaaaay – are there any landmarks you can point out, to help us find you?

“Ummmm, how about this? I think it’s a famous cathedral.”
A Famous Cathedral - Paddy and Plunkett - CrawCrafts BeastiesThat’ll do! Those colourful domes are very familiar.

“It looks even cooler at night. Check it out!”
Cathedral at Night - Paddy and Plunkett - CrawCrafts Beasties

“Oh, and you might recognise the square in front of the cathedral too. It’s massive!”
Plunkett on the Square - CrawCrafts Beasties“The square is named after a colour, and the big wall behind me protects an extensive fortified complex of towers, palaces and churches that includes the official residence of the country’s president.”

“Don’t forget this place, Plunkett!”
Famous Tomb - Paddy and Plunkett - CrawCrafts Beasties“What is it, Paddy? Is it a pyramid?”
“Not exactly… But it is a tomb! Visitors can go inside and see the embalmed body of a 20th-century leader who played an important part in this country’s history. C’mon, let’s have a look!”
“Um… How about you go, and I wait for you here?”

Fortunately, dallying is not encouraged in this particular attraction, so it’s not long before Paddy rejoins Plunkett and the pair go to see some more of the city’s sights. Plunkett is keen to explore a very distinctive architectural style that has become the trademark of this country’s older buildings, especially its churches.
Architecture with Paddy and Plunkett - CrawCrafts Beasties“Cool! The tops of the towers look like onions!”
“Yes… That’s why we call them “onion domes”. Look around you, there are loads!”
Onion Domes - CrawCrafts BeastiesUnfortunately, the onion domes are speaking more to Paddy’s stomach than his artistic sensibilities. So the boys cut their tour short, and head off in search of some lunch. But hopefully they’ve left you enough clues to figure out the name of the country and city they visited today! Be sure to share your guesses in the comments… Answer in next week’s post!

Where are We? H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

Outstanding Blogger Award

Oh looky! We got an award!Blog Award Pedro L - CrawCrafts BeastiesThanks to Pedro at worldwidepedrol.com for nominating us!

Now, it’s been a while since I did an awards post, but I happen to know a pair of attention-hungry woolly monsters who would LOVE to tell you a little more about themselves.
A Snack for Paddy and Plunkett - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

So, here are Pedro’s award questions – take it away, lads!

What would you say about yourself that can be surprising?
Paddy:
People are often surprised to find out how tall I am. They always think I look smaller in photos.
Plunkett:
I think a lot of humans are amazed that we can travel by ourselves. They think Helen just picks us up and photographs us on her own travels, but that’s really not true.

Where do you live and what are your 3 favorite things about this place?
Plunkett: We live in Northern Ireland, and I think I like the beautiful countryside the best.
The Lads at Gleno Waterfall - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesPaddy: Yeah, and the beaches!
Paddy and Portbraddon - North Antrim Coast - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesIt’s also easy to travel around because it’s not very big.
Plunkett: Yes, that’s true. But somehow there’s still lots to see.
Paddy: I know! It must be some kind of magic!

If it wasn´t the pandemic and you could be abroad, where would you be at this moment and why?
Plunkett: The pandemic hasn’t really slowed us down that much. We’ve been some pretty interesting places these past couple of weeks.
Lockdown Tour Summary - Award - CrawCrafts BeastiesPaddy: I think he means ACTUAL travel, Plunkett, not just photoshopping ourselves into pictures. I choose LA!
Plunkett: Hmmm… In that case, Iceland! Lots of interesting geology there. Or I’d even go back to the Giant’s Causeway. I enjoyed our trip there last year. Why do you want to go to Los Angeles?
Paddy: To work on my tan, obviously. And launch my film career.

Either on blogging or arts or maths, what are your biggest inspirations and how do they inspire you?
Plunkett: I love nice, green, mossy places. Somewhere quiet where I can relax and watch the world go by for a while. And gardening! It’s so satisfying to watch things grow.Plunkett Likes... Award Post - CrawCrafts BeastiesPaddy: Action films! And fast cars!
Plunkett: You’re supposed to say why, Paddy.
Paddy: What’s to explain? Because they’re AWESOME!!

What are your tips to have a successful blog?
Paddy: Oh, tricky one! I think you should have loads of cool stuff, like high speed car chases and glamorous locations. We should definitely be doing more of that.
Plunkett: Or maybe just keeping it simple? Travel and banter with a buddy, for example?
Paddy: Hmmm… Yes, I suppose that’s good too!

What are your goals for this year and how do you imagine yourself in a decade?
Paddy: Be more famous. Then in ten years I will be SUPER FAMOUS, and a Formula One driver, and a film star with my own clothing line.
Plunkett: I’m pretty happy as I am, really. I’d like to see more of the world though, and perhaps add some more interesting specimens to my rock collection.

If you had the chance, what would you ask about me? (and I promise to answer in a future post! ahah)
Both: We heard you once visited Northern Ireland. Tell us more!

Outstanding Blogger Award, Part 2

Okay, now you know everything there is to know about Paddy and Plunkett! Next I need to pick out some nominees of my own. Here goes…

Handmade Habit

tierneycreates

Tammie Painter

Fabrications

Simon’s Space

Tesserology

Daze and Weekes

Quiet Water Craft

For those of you who are up for participating, here are the rules: provide a link to the creator’s original award post; answer the questions provided; create 7 unique questions; nominate up to 10 bloggers; ensure that they are aware of their nomination.

Nominees, please don’t feel under pressure to take part! We all have a lot going on these days! But if you do want to share a little more about yourself, here are Paddy and Plunkett’s questions for you. They’ve cut the question list down to five as well, to make the whole process a little easier 😉

  1. Coffee or tea? (Or no hot beverages at all?)
  2. Where in the world would you most like to visit, and why?
  3. What is the most delicious meal you’ve ever eaten, and where did you have it?
  4. What have you made that you’re most proud of, and why?
  5. What’s your plan for today?

And Finally…

Where in the world were Paddy and Plunkett last week?
Perseverance Panorama - Paddy and PlunkettAnswer: Nowhere. Because they weren’t on this world at all! As spotted by some eagle-eyed readers, the boys have magicked themselves onto Mars. Overall, they enjoyed the experience, but Paddy says the nightlife isn’t really up to much.

Plunkett “borrowed” the pictures for this adventure from NASA’s website. This link will take you directly to the gallery of images from the 2020 Perseverance Rover mission – there’s some really cool artwork on here, as well as actual photos from the surface of the Red Planet! Enjoy!

We’ll be taking a break from blogging for a little while, to get caught up on some other bits and bobs. But don’t worry, we’ll be back to celebrate St Patrick’s Day with you in a couple of weeks! See you then!

Perseverance Panorama - Paddy and Plunkett

Paddy, Plunkett and a Little Perseverance

Hello everyone! I hope you’re having a good week. I’ve been suuuuper busy… Expect to be meeting some new Beasties very soon, once they all get to where they need to go!

In the meantime, Paddy and Plunkett have spent the last few days trying to choose where to visit next. They’re taking all this lockdown travel very seriously, you know! And it looks like Plunkett has just had a flash of inspiration…

“This is going to be great, Paddy…”
All the Photos - Lockdown - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties “…They’ll never guess where we’ve gone this time.”

Perseverance Panorama - Paddy and Plunkett
“Woooooooaaah! That’s some view, Plunkett – it’s out of this world!”
“You’re not wrong there.”

Wait, do I detect a wry bit of humour from Plunkett there? Hmmmm…

And Paddy’s day is just about to get even better. Plunkett has booked him a rental car… Sort of.
Paddy's New Wheels - Paddy and Plunkett and Perseverance“Sweet wheels! Can I really drive this?”
“Of course!”
“YEEESSSSSSSSSSS!”Paddy Driving, Plunkett Leaving - Paddy, Plunkett and Perseverance“Wait, where are you going?”
“Rock hunting!”

Nothing unusual there. We all know that Plunkett loves a bit of geology! But he’s heard that human scientists are really keen to get rock samples from this place, and he wants to help them out.

And, after a fun few hours of exploration, the lads met up for a final photo…
Perseverance Portrait - Paddy and Plunkett… And to leave their mark on the place.
Paddy and Plunkett were here! CrawCrafts Beasties“Just one thing, Plunkett…”
“Yes?”
“How are we going to get home?”

Ah. Well, I’m sure Plunkett will think of something. Hopefully we’ll see the boys back in time for next week’s post!

And where were the lads last week?

Stones Close up - B Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties
I don’t think anybody needed any help figuring this out… It’s Stonehenge, of course! Find out more about those spectacular stones here… You can even take a virtual tour from the comfort of your own couch!

And finally…

I should probably mention that a few of the images featured in this post are not my own. I’ll share full source info for the originals in the big reveal next week.

Stones Close up - B Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

Paddy, Plunkett and some Ancient Stones

Hello Beastie friends! Are you ready to go globetrotting again with Paddy and Plunkett? I hope so… Because stone the crows, this week’s destination rocks!

Boys and Stones - Paddy and Plunkett - CrawCrafts Beasties
Yes, it’s a pretty easy guess this time! Through the miracle of computer wizardry, Plunkett has managed to transport himself and Paddy into the heart of one of the most recognisable monuments in the world. And since we’re here, how about we take a look around?

Please note that Plunkett’s images may not reflect the actual size of this place. That’s the joy of editing yourself into someone else’s photos.
Stones Close up - B Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

“Oh, sorry! Here’s one with some humans in it for scale.”
“Wow, Plunkett! This place is really massive!”Humans and Stones - B Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesThis monument is believed to have been standing here since round 2500BC, although new findings indicate that some of the stones were quarried and shaped much earlier.

Bluestones - B Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

The smaller ones (called “bluestones”) which you can see in the foreground originally came from a prehistoric quarry in Wales. But archaeological evidence at the quarry suggested that there was a significant amount of time (around 400 years) between the stones being cut and their arrival at their current home. So, what happened to them in between?

Well, it turns out that the bluestones are second-hand! After a whole lot of digging on some pretty soggy Welsh hillsides, archaeologists discovered the remains of another, earlier stone circle. One which, after 400 years, was apparently picked up and moved east.

Oh yeah, and how do they know that these were the same stones, you ask? Surely rocks leave pretty samey indentations in the ground, right? Luckily, one of the bluestones broke as it was being removed, leaving a piece behind that could be paired with the end of one of the stones in this famous circle. Amazing!

But the best-known feature of this place is this arrangement of huge standing stones.

Where are P&P - Stones - B Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

So after all that, I’m sure you’ll find it an absolute breeze to tell me the name of this place and where in the world it is! Go on, hazard a guess in the comments.

And where were the boys last week?

Boys on Tour - Where are Paddy and Plunkett? CrawCrafts Beasties

Answer – Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo, Japan! Congratulations to Tammie who pinpointed the boys’ exact location – nice one, Tammie! Be sure to swing by her site too… She’s preparing for the launch of her new novel at the end of the month and there are special offers and freebies up for grabs!