Springtime Adventure Part 2 - CrawCrafts Beasties

Springtime with Explorer Beastie

Hey there everyone! Wow, you’d barely know you were in Ireland today – it’s so warm and sunny outside! So I thought it might be the perfect day to catch up with the rest of Explorer Beastie’s springtime wanderings, after our slight digression last week.

Oh, and if you missed part one, you’ll find that here. We’ll kick back and relax while you get caught up.
Explorer Beastie Enjoying the Irish Countryside - CrawCrafts BeastiesSpringtime in the Irish countryside is a very colourful time. The fields are full of blue…
Springtime Colours - CrawCrafts Beasties… And white…
Springtime Daisies - CrawCrafts Beasties… And yellow!
Springtime Gorse - CrawCrafts BeastiesThose gorgeous golden gorse flowers are always a treat. Take a good big sniff there, Explorer Beastie – being careful of those spines, of course!
Gorse Perfume - CrawCrafts Beasties“Mmmmm! It smells like… Coconut!”

He’s right, it really does. It makes a stroll in the countryside feel like a holiday in the tropics!

And the plants aren’t the only ones putting on a show in glorious technicolour.

First Ladybird - CrawCrafts Beasties
“Look! It’s the first ladybird of the season!”

There were also plenty of butterflies to admire, but the ladybird was the only colourful critter who stayed put long enough to be photographed… Next time I’ll know to bring along my proper camera! But never mind, there’s still plenty of exploring to do.
In the long grass - Springtime - CrawCrafts BeastiesThrough the long grass and rushes, and up a staircase made of tree roots…
Tree Roots - CrawCrafts Beasties
… To discover traces left behind by other visitors.

What’s this?
Traces of Other Visitors - CrawCrafts Beasties“Someone’s stopped here for dinner recently! It looks like they ordered escargots…”
Springtime Snacks - CrawCrafts BeastiesOh yes! Flat rocks and broken snail shells are a sign that a bird (usually a song thrush) has been enjoying a springtime snack. The birds use the stone as an anvil to break open the shell and extract the snail from within.

Are we having snails for lunch too, then?
“No thanks! I’ll hold out for a sandwich when we get home.”

Fair enough. Oh look, dandelion clocks! Take a deep breath, and…
Dandelion Clock - Springtime - CrawCrafts Beasties… BLOW!
Telling Time, Country Style - CrawCrafts BeastiesSo, what time is it?
“Huh?”
The number of seeds still clinging to the stem after you blow supposedly tells you what time it is. That’s why these seed heads are called clocks! One seed left means it’s one o’clock, two seeds, two o’clock… You get the idea.
“Oh, okay… One, two, three – LUNCHTIME!”

Ah, a Beastie after my own heart! Let’s turn our paws for home, then.
Springtime Countryside Adventures - CrawCrafts Beasties

PS…

For anybody outside Ireland who couldn’t watch me on the telly last week, the nice people at Ireland AM sent me a video clip of my segment! I’ve popped it on the Beasties’ Facebook page, here, if you’d like to see it!

And we’ll be back next week with another new Beastie for you to meet… See you then!

Explorer Beastie Enjoying the Irish Countryside - CrawCrafts Beasties

Spring in the Irish Countryside

Hello there everyone! How are things where you are? Our county borders reopened here in Ireland last week… And maybe it was this, or possibly I was inspired by Paddy and Plunkett’s “great escape” last week, but I decided it might be a good time to escape to the lovely Irish countryside for a couple of days!

Explorer Beastie came along too, looking very dapper in his new Aran sweater.
Beastie in an Apple Tree - Irish Countryside - CrawCrafts BeastiesUm, can you maybe turn around so we can see?
Beastie Aran Sweater - CrawCrafts BeastiesMuch better! That’ll keep you nice and cosy while we go exploring. Although it looks like we’ve been uncommonly lucky with the weather – you’d hardly know we’re in Ireland at all!

This apple blossom is great, isn’t it?
Apple Blossom - Irish Countryside - CrawCrafts Beasties“Yes, and it smells AMAZING!”
What's Over There? Irish Countryside - CrawCrafts Beasties“Hey, what’s over there?”

Oooh, good idea! Let’s head off over the fields and see what we can find.

It wasn’t long before we came across these very delicate flowers – does anyone know what they are?
Mystery Flowers - Irish Countryside - CrawCrafts Beasties“I’ll stand next to them, for scale!”

Identifying these was easy enough though – hello, primroses!
Primroses - Irish Countryside - CrawCrafts BeastiesIt’s always nice to see their sunny yellow faces peeking out of shaded, Beastie-sized hollows in the hedgerows.

And even though we were there last week, it looks like we only just caught the end of the May blossom! The Irish countryside is white with flowers at this time of year, thanks to the many hawthorn and blackthorn trees that make up our hedges. This is a blackthorn tree, I believe…
Beastie Blackthorn Blossom - CrawCrafts Beasties

Ahhhh! I think we might just hang out here for a while, and watch the clouds drift by…

Big Skies - Irish Countryside - CrawCrafts Beasties

… And listen to the birds singing in the background. Make sure you have the sound on when you watch the video, so you can hear them too!

See you next time!

 

Techie Plunkett - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

Adventuring in Lockdown

Hello there Beastie friends! And welcome to February… Spring is now juuuust around the corner, right? And with days lengthening and daffodils and snowdrops starting to poke their way through the earth, is it possible that the lockdown is thawing out a bit too?

Paddy certainly thinks so.
“Camera, car keys, a box of travel sweeties – I think the humans are going somewhere!”

But Plunkett isn’t so sure. He suggests they check the news before they start making travel plans.Going Somewhere? Paddy and Plunkett - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

Ah. Oh dear.

“Sorry, Paddy. Lockdown continues… It looks like we’re staying home for the time being.”
But Paddy, as we know, is an optimistic creature. And lockdown or no lockdown, he’s still happy to tuck into the humans’ travel sweets. Except…

“Gaaaah! Plunkett! WHAT ARE THESE? They don’t look like sweeties!”
Isn’t it lucky that tech-savvy Plunkett is on hand?
“It’s a memory stick, Paddy.”
“Huh?”
“Come on, I’ll show you. It’ll help us put in the time until lunch.”

He selects a nice bright green one, to match his lovely mossy complexion, and…

“Pop it in the side of the computer here… We’re on our way! Look at all those photos.”

“So, where would you like to go, Paddy?”
“Oooh… How about those ones there?”
“Carlingford? Good choice!”

He’s right! It looks beautiful there.
Carlingford Lough - Lockdown Travel - B Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesLet’s swing in for a closer look.
Carlingford Lough - B Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesI don’t know about you, but this is EXACTLY the kind of view I needed to see today! And the boys’ tour isn’t finished yet… Now they’re off to Carlingford town.

“Oh cool, a castle!”
King John's Castle - Lockdown Adventures - B Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“Yes, Paddy! Carlingford Castle was built by King John of England, and has been here on the shores of the Lough since the 12th century.”

And it’s not the only castle in town, either.
Castles in Carlingford - Lockdown Adventures - B Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesThere’s a medieval church too. Plunkett is in raptures over all that lovely stonework.
Medieval Church in Carlingford - B Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“I’ll just zoom in here, for a closer look…”
“Do you see any leprechauns, Plunkett?”
“Noooo… Why would I?”
“Carlingford is the leprechaun capital of Ireland, of course!”

It really is, you know. Paddy pulled up this website to prove it! And if you want to capture your very own leprechaun, you can join the annual Leprechaun Hunt. It takes place in the Cooley Mountains, up behind the town.
Cooley Mountains - B Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesI can think of worse places to spend a day looking for the “little people”! The Mourne mountains are also nearby.
Mourne Mountains - Lockdown Adventures - B Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“And there are some incredible beaches, too.”
Beach at Carlingford - B Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“I’d love to go there sometime, Plunkett!”
“Well, with a little technical wizardry…”
Boys on the Beach - Lockdown Travel - CrawCrafts Beasties“… We can!”
“Cool! Hey, if we travel like this, just imagine the places we could go!”

Good thinking, Paddy. So, is there anywhere you’d like Paddy and Plunkett to virtually visit over the coming months? Be sure to let us know in the comments!

Mulroy Bay, Co Donegal - CrawCrafts Beasties

Memory Lane: Donegal Road Trips

Hello there Beastie friends! And hey, look at this – we’re nearly halfway through January already. That HAS to be worth celebrating! Now normally at this time of year, my brother and I (often with a certain small blue and yellow woolly monster in tow) would spend a day driving around beautiful Co Donegal, in the extreme north-west of Ireland. For obvious reasons, we haven’t managed a Donegal road trip in a good few months – possibly since last Christmas. Yikes!

So, I thought I would use today’s post to take a virtual road trip instead. Quick, put on the kettle for a nice cup of tea, or grab a can of the black stuff… Ready? Okay, let’s go!

First of all, it’s never advisable to start a road trip on an empty stomach. How about we kick off with a nice healthy Full Irish Breakfast?
Explorer Beastie, Eyeing up my Breakfast - CrawCrafts BeastiesDon’t worry, we’ll have plenty of opportunities to walk this off later.

Now that we’re properly fuelled up, let’s go and enjoy some scenery.
Explorer Beastie at Glengesh Pass, Donegal - CrawCrafts BeastiesGlengesh Pass is pretty spectacular at any time of the year. The last time we were there it was late summer – look at those rolling green hills! It’s also on the way to Glencolmcille, where a Beastie can dip his paws in the Atlantic if the mood takes him.
Paddling on Glencolmcille Beach - CrawCrafts BeastiesMind you, it’s not all sunshine and sand dunes here. Sometimes it can be a bit on the breezy side…
Windy Out Today! CrawCrafts Beasties… And the traffic is terrible.
Rush Hour, Glencolmcille - CrawCrafts BeastiesAll this would really give you an appetite. Lunchtime! Conveniently enough, we’re just passing through Ardara… Nancy’s Bar here does a cracking lunch, and a very tasty homemade cider.

Also, you feel like you’re hanging out in someone’s cosy living room.
Nancy's Dresser - Spot the Beastie! CrawCrafts BeastiesAlright, time to head north! And because we’re travelling by blog, we can enjoy two sunsets at two different locations. First, Fanad Head, where there’s a beautiful lighthouse to admire…
Can we reach the Lighthouse? CrawCrafts Beasties… And rocks to scramble over.
Explorer Beastie by the Sea, Fanad Head - CrawCrafts BeastiesNext, we can journey to the northernmost point of the island of Ireland – Malin Head.
Malin Head Viewpoint - CrawCrafts BeastiesThen we can cruise by the wide sandy beach at Five Finger Strand…
Explorer Beastie on Five Finger Strand - CrawCrafts Beasties… Before catching the last of the daylight on our way home.
Explorer Beastie at Sunset - CrawCrafts BeastiesDon’t forget to leave a rock monster behind to show we were here!
Rock Monster in Donegal - CrawCrafts BeastiesAnd once we get home, we can warm up by the fire and swap adventuring stories.
Warming up by the fire - CrawCrafts BeastiesAaaaah! Toasty.

So, where would you next like to take a road trip to? Be sure to share your travelling daydreams with us in the comments!

Makeshift Gate - Countryside Christmas - CrawCrafts Beasties

Countryside Christmas

Hello there Beastie friends! I hope you’re all staying safe and keeping well in these strange times. I thought I’d do something a little different today, and share a behind-the-scenes story… My Christmas in the countryside!

I usually head north of the border to spend the festive season with my family in Northern Ireland. Unfortunately, Coronavirus laughed in the face of my holiday plans. But luckily, Boyfriend’s family stepped in and “adopted” me for a couple of days, and Christmas Eve saw us both scooting westwards on the train to the peace and quiet of County Roscommon.

It was so nice to leave the city behind for a couple of days, and I made sure to head out for a walk every day to enjoy the sights and sounds of the countryside! Care to join me?

Now, we are in Ireland here, so it rained A LOT. Can you tell?
Rainy Ireland - Countryside Christmas - CrawCrafts BeastiesAnd while some shadowy thickets retained a feeling of chilly mystery when the clouds parted…
Thicket - Countryside Christmas - CrawCrafts Beasties… In some places the winter sun broke through the trees and made the empty fields glow.
Willows - Countryside Christmas - CrawCrafts Beasties

Gotta love those quiet roads and wide open skies.Countryside Christmas Wander - CrawCrafts BeastiesAnd there are wonders right at your feet in the undergrowth, too.
Earthstars - CrawCrafts BeastiesThese alien-looking marvels are fungi called earthstars. They pop up in the same place every year, so I always make sure to check in on them when I’m in the neighbourhood.

Then as the sun slipped below the horizon, I headed for home… Just as the moon started to rise over the fields.
The Moon & the Fields - CrawCrafts BeastiesBut where was Explorer Beastie while all this was going on? Ummm…
Sleepy Explorer Beastie - CrawCrafts BeastiesWell, I suppose the holidays are a time to rest up and recharge your batteries.

So, did the pandemic throw a spanner in the works of your usual end-of-year activities? And did you end up doing something different but equally fun? Be sure to tell us all about it in the comments!

Breakfast Fit For A Beastie - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

Beside the Seaside on the North Antrim Coast

Hello Beastie friends, and welcome back to the beautiful North Antrim Coast! Where’s that? Right here… Although we are gradually working our way north from the red arrow, and we’re currently hanging out on the flat area just below that little offshore island.

Ireland Showing Antrim
Map borrowed from Wikipedia

Adventurous Beasties Paddy and Plunkett have been touring this scenic part of Northern Ireland for the last couple of weeks (catch up here and here if you missed the first instalments) and today, they have an appetite for even more seaside.

But first, they have an appetite for something else… BREAKFAST!
Breakfast Fit For A Beastie - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesLooks good, lads… But check out the size of that portion! Where do they put it all?!

Thoroughly fuelled up for the day, the boys headed for their first destination – Dunseverick Harbour. And it looks like there’s some activity in the waters of the harbour this morning!
Paddleboarding in Dunseverick Harbour - North Antrim Coast - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“Oh Plunkett, can we have a go?”
“Probably not, Paddy… We are made of wool, after all. It looks like fun though!”
“Yes…”
Paddy Watches the Paddleboarders - North Antrim Coast - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“… It really does!”

Not to worry, Paddy. The company behind this aquatic expedition also offer other activities that don’t involve getting your paws wet, such as rock climbing and abseiling, so you can put that on your to-do list for next time. Interested humans can find out more about Rathlin Adventures on their website, or show them some love on Facebook and Instagram!

For today, let’s find a more land-based activity. How about a trip to the local museum? That’ll do nicely… Especially since the building is so delightfully nautically themed!
Paddy and Plunkett at Dunseverick Museum - North Antrim Coast - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesBut once they’d untangled themselves from these coiled ship’s ropes, Paddy demanded more shoreline sightseeing.

Fortunately, Plunkett knows all the good spots around here. Let’s go rock pooling!
Plunkett and the Pool - North Antrim Coast - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesIn certain places along the north Antrim coast, the sea has created a number of large rock pools… Perfect for a cooling dip away from the currents and waves. There’s this one, above…

… And sheltered away among the rocks, in a top secret location known to only the most informed of Beasties, you’ll find Peggy’s Well.
Peggy's Well, North Antrim Coast - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“Who’s Peggy, Plunkett?”
“That’s the biggest secret of all, Paddy. I have no idea!”

And it turns out the internet doesn’t either! This is one mystery that even the Beasties can’t solve.

Still, it’s a pleasant place to sit and watch the waves for a while. Aaaaaah!
Paddy Watches the Waves - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesAnd then, to wrap up today’s coastal sightseeing tour, let’s swing by what might be one of the most beautiful beaches anywhere – Whitepark Bay.
Plunkett at White Park Bay -  Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesOn a bright day, the sands on this beach gleam white in the sunshine. But even when it’s a bit overcast, it’s a lovely spot to stroll and look for fossils. As Plunkett contemplates the wilder side of the beach…

… Paddy peers down on the tiny hamlet of Portbraddon at the other end.
Paddy and Portbraddon - North Antrim Coast - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“Look how big this beach is, Plunkett! Those people look Beastie-sized from up here!”

But of course, there’s one very famous place nearby which the Beasties haven’t visited yet… Can anyone guess where? Find out in next week’s post, when it’s the final stop on our North Antrim Coast tour! See you then!

P&P at Antrim Castle - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

Paddy and Plunkett – Escape to Antrim!

It’s been a while since we heard from the boys, hasn’t it? But don’t worry, they’ve just been getting away from it all (locally) again! Now they’re back and ready to share their latest adventure – in Antrim!

Ireland Showing Antrim
Map borrowed from Wikipedia

Of course, at first they didn’t know they were going to Antrim. When Beasties travel, the luck of the draw prevails! This is how they planned their trip.
Paddy and Plunkett plan a trip - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“Look, Plunkett! I think there might be another staycation in the pipeline. Shall we?”
“Hmmm… Maybe. Where are they going, do you think?”
“Does it matter? Come on!”

Ever the opportunist, Paddy knows exactly where the best seats in the house are.
Getting Away From it All - Antrim - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“If we climb into the knitting bag, we’ll get to travel in the car, not the boot. Then we can look out the window all the way to our destination… Wherever that might be!”

However, Plunkett needs a little more convincing.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea, Paddy? That bag says ‘Colditz’ on it. Do you not remember the film we watched last Wednesday?”
“Ahhhh, it’ll be grand. Hop in!”

Well, he makes a compelling argument.
Destination - Colditz? H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“If we end up in an escape-proof prisoner of war camp, Paddy, I’m holding you responsible!”

It looks like young Paddy might have made the right call, though.
Travelling in Style - Paddy and Plunkett in Antrim - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“There! What did I tell you? Floor-to-ceiling windows, soft carpeting under our paws… And the humans will never spot us back here!”

But when the car stops…
“Paddy…”
A Castle - Antrim - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“… Is this a castle?”
“Errrrrrm…”

Well yes, it is. But fortunately, it’s Antrim Castle – not Colditz.
We're at Antrim Castle! H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesYou wouldn’t mind being locked in here though. Look at these beautiful gardens!
Antrim Castle Gardens - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesThe locals seem friendly too… And it looks like there might be a happy event in the not-too-distant future!
Scarecrow Family at Antrim Castle - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesHuh. I always wondered where new scarecrows came from – I guess we know now!

More from the boys next week. In the meantime, stay safe wherever you are!

PS…

I should probably mention that the lads took this trip before the latest round of coronavirus-inspired restrictions came into effect on both sides of the Irish border! If you find yourself in a similarly Covid-ey place, please let the Beasties do your travelling for you, and enjoy their adventures from the comfort of your own couch 🙂

Gardener Beastie, meet Explorer Beastie! CrawCrafts Beasties

Botanic Beasties 2 – Back to the Gardens!

Hello Beastie friends! Wow, is it really Tuesday again already? How about we kick off this week with a continuing tour of Dublin’s Botanic Gardens, then? And don’t worry if you missed the first part last week, you can catch up here!

After encountering a very busy BumbleBeastie last time…
Beasties in the Botanic Gardens - CrawCrafts Beasties… Explorer Beastie strolled off to see if there might be any other Beasties about.
Strolling through the Botanic Gardens - CrawCrafts BeastiesHe didn’t have to go far… There’s one!
Gardener Beastie in the Botanic Gardens, Dubin - CrawCrafts BeastiesHey there, Gardener Beastie!
Gardener Beastie, meet Explorer Beastie! CrawCrafts Beasties

This little horticultural monster is super-busy keeping all the beautiful seasonal plantings in order… But there’s still time to pose for a quick photo!
Explorer Beastie with Gardener Beastie - CrawCrafts BeastiesAnd we got a special guided tour of the displays, too. There’s plenty of floral colour everywhere for visitors to enjoy!
Floral Colours at the Botanic Gardens - CrawCrafts BeastiesVisitors of all sizes.
Red Admiral Butterfly at Dublin's Botanic Gardens - CrawCrafts BeastiesAnd just as we were about to leave, Explorer Beastie spotted a familar face. Look who’s hanging out in the hanging baskets!
BumbleBeastie in the Hanging Baskets - Botanic Gardens - CrawCrafts Beasties
Nice to see you again, BumbleBeastie! Maybe we’ll bump into each other again on a future visit to the Botanic Gardens?

And speaking of the future, join us next Tuesday to meet another new Beastie! See you then…

Paddy and Plunkett’s Summer Staycation

The boys are back in town… Or are they? Like the rest of us, they’ve been locked in for the last few months, and now they’re eager to get away. Staycation or long-haul round-the-world trip, they don’t mind!

Fortunately, it looks like an opportunity to travel has just presented itself.
Staycation Ahoy! H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“What’s going on here, Paddy?”

“I’m not sure, Plunkett…”
Travel Beastie-Style - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“… But hop in here and we’ll soon find out!”

Much, much later…


Indeed you have, Beasties. Let the staycation begin!
Let the Staycation Begin! H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“We’re here! Um, where is here?”

Luckily, Plunkett has been watching a few of his favourite crime dramas during lockdown, and his deductive powers are razor-sharp. He knows they haven’t left the island of Ireland, because they drove the whole way. Then when he sees how green everything is, and how much water there is around…
Where are We? H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“We’re in the west. Sligo, I think!”

Wow, he’s right! Although I suspect that last part might have been a lucky guess. Sligo is one of Ireland’s smaller counties, but it’s incredibly beautiful. Get a good lungful of that lovely fresh air too, boys!
Sligo Staycation - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“Aaaaaaah!”

And there really is water everywhere here! Look, Plunkett’s just found some more.
Sligo Staycation - Paddy and Plunkett - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesSo many waterfalls! You probably won’t be surprised to learn that this town, Ballysadare, takes its name from these beautiful rushing rivers. It’s called “Baile Easa Dara” in Irish, which means “town of the waterfall of the oak”. Clearly Paddy has gone in search of the oak!

Plunkett catches up with him a short while later, in a lovely mossy woodland. One advantage of our climate here is that Ireland is full of these cool, moss-filled hollows.
Plunkett finds some moss - Staycation in Sligo - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesAnd Plunkett LOVES these.

“Paddy! Paddy! Take my picture with the moss!”
Plunkett's Moss Photo - Sligo Staycation - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“Fine. But we’re definitely going to the beach tomorrow!”

Join us next Tuesday to see if Paddy gets to take his trip to the seaside after all. And if you need a little extra dose of monster fun, be sure to check out what tierneycreates Beastie has been up to on the other side of the Atlantic. A certain handsome Beastie has landed in his new home, and there’s good news to share!

See you next time!

Beasties in the Daisies - Local Adventures - CrawCrafts Beasties

Keepin’ it Local

Hey there everyone! How are you all doing out there? Hopefully you’re adjusting to this weird “new normal”, and finding ways to keep sane. I’ve been mostly keeping to Beastie Towers, and taking advantage of my non-essential-worker status to really dig into some long-standing projects! But while I’m all for flattening the curve by staying at home, last week I thought it might be wise to get out for a little exercise in my local area… And you’ll hardly be surprised when I tell you that some Beasties came along for the trip!

Care to join us as we take an adventure on our very own doorstep?

A Local Wander… REALLY Local

Here in Ireland, we’re trying to contain the icky coronavirus by keeping to a 2km radius of our homes for all non-essential travel. Fortunately, I find myself in a part of Dublin with a good selection of green spaces right at hand. All I had to do was pick one! So I opted for the gardens at the Irish Museum of Modern Art… And arrived to find them closed. Erk.

Time for Plan B: the National War Memorial Gardens! This is the park that a lot of Dubliners forget – possibly because it’s just across the river from the much bigger Phoenix Park, which has glamorous attractions like the Zoo and various sports pitches. But this riverside green space is definitely worth a look, and it certainly proved irresistible to one Cookie Beastie!
Local Travels with Cookie Beastie - CrawCrafts Beasties“Look, there’s still cherry blossom here!”

Beautiful! We should probably stop for a picnic in among the fallen blossoms.
Cookie Beastie in our local Park - CrawCrafts BeastiesHey, who’s that?
Cookie Beastie by CrawCrafts BeastiesYay! Aran Beastie‘s here too!
Cookie Beastie and Aran Beastie - CrawCrafts Beasties

Aran Beastie is enjoying the sunshine, and is taking a moment to stop and smell the first spring daisies. It looks like Cookie Beastie is content to keep munching on that biscuit though!Beasties in the Daisies - Local Adventures - CrawCrafts Beasties
Mmmm, there really are loads out today!
Aran Beastie with Daisies - CrawCrafts BeastiesA little further up the hill, we wandered into the rose garden. And although there aren’t many roses in bloom yet, there was plenty of other greenery to explore!
Local Beastie Adventures - CrawCrafts BeastiesWe’ll definitely have to schedule another visit later in the year to catch it at its best!

And if that little lot has whetted your appetite for at-home monster adventures, you should check out what tierneycreates Beastie
Beastie Besties - tierneycreates Beastie and Dog by CrawCrafts BeastiesAnd Finn McSpool have been up to lately!

Finn McSpool Storms Kilkenny Castle - T. Painter/CrawCrafts Beasties
Image borrowed from tammiepainter.com

Let’s not forget that there are Beasties everywhere, so if you’ve witnessed any monster shenanigans in your local area recently, be sure to let us know all about it! And provide photographic proof if you can…

Stay safe, and we’ll be back on… Friday?

Yes – I thought I’d reboot Flashback Friday, and start doing pre-weekend monster retrospectives again. Join us then, and get to know a past Beastie a little better!