Tag: Exploring

Monster Highway in the Forest! CrawCrafts Beasties

More From The Fairy Forest!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Explorer Beastie, Knitted Beasties

Explorer Beastie, Away With the Fairies - CrawCrafts BeastiesRegular BeastieBlog readers will know that Explorer Beastie and I were literally away with the fairies a couple of weeks ago! But as I was tidying up the photo files from our trip away, I saw that there were loads of other non-fairy photos that I hadn’t had a chance to use. Away from the hubbub of Fairyville, there was a whole forest for Explorer Beastie to investigate – let’s join him, shall we?
Explorer Beastie Tackles the Undergrowth - CrawCrafts BeastiesHere we go! The undergrowth was pretty dense in some places…

…But elsewhere we found shortcuts better suited to little short Beastie legs!
Monster Highway in the Forest! CrawCrafts BeastiesSoft mossy patches also make the perfect place to stop for a quick nap…
Time for a Rest! CrawCrafts Beasties… And we even found a natural paddling pool in a tree stump!
A Natural Beastie-Sized Paddling Pool - CrawCrafts BeastiesThere was also plenty of clover growing in the forest – surely ONE of these is the lucky four-leafed kind?
Explorer Beastie With Lucky Clover - CrawCrafts BeastiesExplorer Beastie also found somewhere to test his Christmas Fairy skills!
Christmas? Already?! CrawCrafts BeastiesHmmm… there might be room for you at the top of the tree this year…

That said, Explorer Beastie will climb pretty much any tree he can find!
Climbing Trees - CrawCrafts BeastiesBut just when we thought we’d gone through the whole fairy forest without meeting a single magical creature… we caught a glimpse of these through the trees!
Fairies in the Forest! CrawCrafts BeastiesWooooah! REAL FAIRIES!

It’s going to be hard to top this on our next day trip!

Have you had a brush with the magical or mysterious lately? Let us know in the comments!

Plunkett at Samphire Hoe - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

White Cliffs and Teeny Trains

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Knitted Beasties, Paddy and Plunkett

White Cliffs at Samphire Hoe - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesPaddy and Plunkett’s tour of the southeast of England continues! Today they’re down by the famous White Cliffs of Dover, which are shining brightly in the sunshine. In fact, Plunkett seems to be quite dazzled by them!
Plunkett at Samphire Hoe - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesWhile they were here, the boys decided to have a look around Samphire Hoe Country Park. It’s a relatively new attraction in these parts – when work on the Channel Tunnel began in the 1980s, this area was given the (questionable) honour of being the dumping ground for all the chalk they dug out of the sea bed. The soil was used to reclaim 30 hectares of land from the sea, and a wall was built offshore to create an artificial lagoon. Then Mother Nature was left to recolonise the park as she saw fit!
Habitats at Samphire Hoe - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesThere are a variety of different habitats to explore, and the lads even met a sunbathing adder on their travels – unfortunately they just weren’t quick enough with the camera to get a picture!

Then in the afternoon, it was time for something completely different!
At the Model Railway - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesOooh, look at that lovely old train! But all is not as it seems…
Paddy Watches the Trains Go By - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesWelcome to New Romney station, on the Romney, Hythe and Dimchurch heritage railway line – home of Britain’s largest model railway! Even Paddy and Plunkett felt like giants among these miniature landscapes!
At the New Romney Model Railway - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesThey especially liked this part – well, who wouldn’t want to enjoy a monster day out for all the family?
Triassic Park! H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesBut what really got Paddy’s attention was waiting just outside – real trains, scaled down to one third their usual size! Perfect for a little woolly monster… Let’s just hope Plunkett managed to stop him from taking one for a test drive!
Paddy Plans to Borrow a Train - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesWe’ll be back on Tuesday with more monster antics! In the meantime, have a super weekend… and please get in touch immediately if a small green monster in an Aran sweater careens past you in what looks like a stolen miniature train!

Visting the Oak Fairy - CrawCrafts Beasties

Explorer Beastie’s Holiday!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Explorer Beastie, Knitted Beasties

As some of you might already know, Explorer Beastie and I took a couple of days off last week and escaped to the countryside! And we really couldn’t have timed it better, since our trip coincided with another brief guest appearance from the ever-elusive Irish Summer.

Explorer Beastie couldn’t wait to get outside…

We're on HOLIDAAAAY! CrawCrafts Beasties…And he was soon on the lookout for the perfect sunbathing spot. Check out that view behind him!

Explorer Beastie Chooses A Sunny Spot - CrawCrafts BeastiesAaaah, just right!
Explorer Beastie Catches Some Rays - CrawCrafts BeastiesBut it’s not in Explorer Beastie’s nature to spend an entire day sitting around. It was only a matter of time before his thirst for adventure got the better of him… Fortunately, we found the perfect place for him to explore! What’s down that path, I wonder?
Where are you going, Explorer Beastie? CrawCrafts BeastiesOoooh, interesting! Let’s check this out!

First we had to walk through the woven willow tunnel…
The Gateway to the Fairy Forest - CrawCrafts Beasties…And look what we found on the other side!
The First Fairy House - CrawCrafts BeastiesA fairy house! At first, we thought this was a one-off… But then we spotted more!
It's a Fairy Town! CrawCrafts BeastiesWe’d stumbled on an entire fairy town in the forest! Some of the houses were easier to reach than others…
Visting the Oak Fairy - CrawCrafts Beasties…But Explorer Beastie enjoyed lunch at the Dew Drop Inn, and a quick browse in the bookstore afterwards.
Lunch and Shopping - CrawCrafts BeastiesHe also had fun taking pictures with our new friend Izzy! Here she is helping us to set up a photo beside a perfectly Beastie-size house. Thanks, Izzy!
Explorer Beastie and New Buddy - CrawCrafts BeastiesWe never did find the owner of “The Giant’s Lair”… although I think he must have been at home recently!
Explorer Beastie and the Giant's Teacups - CrawCrafts BeastiesClearly he shares my love of doing the dishes!

After our forest walk, we stopped in the courtyard for human-sized food before heading for home. Explorer Beastie waited for us in the herb garden!
Explorer Beastie Hanging Out in the Courtyard - CrawCrafts BeastiesWhat are you all up to this weekend? If you find yourself in Slieve Gullion Forest Park, don’t forget to say hi to our fairy friends in the forest!

Explorer Beastie on the Fence! CrawCrafts Beasties

Surprise! We’re on Holiday!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Explorer Beastie, Info

Explorer Beastie Relaxes in the Heather - CrawCrafts BeastiesAaaah, it’s not often that us monster makers get a chance to get away from it all… so when one popped up out of the blue, Explorer Beastie and I grabbed it with both hands/paws! Unfortunately we’re not 100% sure what the internet access will be like at our destination, so we’ll catch up with you all again when we get back on Friday. In the meantime, we might post the odd holiday snap on Twitter or Instagram to make you jealous!

See you soon, and have a great week 🙂

The Beastie’s Tale

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Paddy and Plunkett

Paddy and Plunkett, Wandering Beasties - CrawCrafts Beasties

“Yes, we’re still on holiday! See if you can guess where we are today…”

Paddy and Plunkett started their tour by getting lost in this Beastie-sized lavender labyrinth. Mazes like these used to be laid out in tiles in front of the city’s cathedrals, and walking the paths supposedly helped you to rack up extra “pilgrim points”,  which would fast-track you to the good parts of heaven.
A Pilgrim's Labyrinth - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesThis place really was a hotspot for pilgrims back in the day… people came from all over Britain, and even further afield, to visit the shrine of Thomas Becket. In fact, although it’s is now one of England’s smallest cities, in pre-Plague times it fell just inside the top ten largest, and was known throughout Europe as the “home town” of a number of recently-canonised saints of the era. The flood of pilgrims making this journey even inspired one of the earliest examples of real English literature, at a time when most literary works were in French or Latin.

Did you figure it out yet?

We’re in Canterbury! Here are the boys posing in front of Canterbury Cathedral, their first port of call after Plunkett managed to extract Paddy from the maze…
Paddy and Plunkett at Canterbury Cathedral - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesCanterbury Cathedral was founded in 597, and is now part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city itself dates right back to Paelolithic times, and contains landmarks left behind by a pick’n’mix of past residents – it seems like everyone from the Romans to the Normans made their mark on Canterbury!

While the cathedral is mostly a hive of activity, where a pair of Beasties risk getting trampled underfoot, there are quiet spots nearby where they can spend time exploring and posing for the camera. This shady herb garden has been planted in the old dormitory of the Cathedral – perfect for a picnic lunch!
Paddy and Plunkett in the Cathedral Herb Garden - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesAnd then they took a stroll to help settle down their hearty meal of… salad leaves. Well, if you want to spend the entire summer travelling, it’s important to save money where you can!

Plunkett spotted eight of these incredible lumpy plane trees as they wandered around the city.
Plane Tree in Canterbury - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesHe wanted to photograph all of them, but someone kept getting in the way…
Paddy Photobombs - AGAIN! H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesNow boys, no fighting please!

Hopefully they’ll be back next Friday, with the next instalment of their magical monster mystery tour. And I’ll have more new Beasties to share on Tuesday too!

Enjoy your weekend!

Save

Paddy and Plunkett have a Picnic - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

A Quiet Stroll in the Countryside… Or is it?

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Paddy and Plunkett

Paddy, Plunkett and some late Bluebells - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesAt last! The sun has broken through the clouds and it feels like summer again! Not that it matters to Paddy and Plunkett, whose extended holiday is still ongoing… let’s find out where they are today!
Paddy Admires the View - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesIt certainly seems nice and peaceful, anyway. And look, Paddy’s spotted some distant Beastie relatives – well, they are all made of wool, right?
Proto-Beasties? H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesBut all is not as it seems!

“Hey Plunkett, what’s that building up there?”
Paddy and Plunkett Catch a Glimpse of English History - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“Glad you asked, Paddy – I’ve been reading up on this! That’s part of the remains of Battle Abbey. Can you believe that we’re standing on what is believed to be the site of the Battle of Hastings? Look, there’s a stone slab here to mark the spot where the English leader King Harold is supposed to have fallen!”
Professor Plunkett Takes a History Lesson - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“Yikes! What happened to King Harold?”

“Arrow through the eye, apparently – the famous Bayeux Tapestry captured the whole thing…”

The Death of King Harold at the Battle of Hastings - Photo from historytoday.com
The Death of King Harold at the Battle of Hastings – Photo from historytoday.com

“In fact, Paddy, forget what you’ve been seeing on Game of Thrones lately… The Battle of Hastings was a pretty gruesome episode in English history! Casualties on both sides were so numerous that the leader of the victorious invading Norman army, who later became known as William the Conqueror, was ordered by Pope Alexander II to atone for this immense loss of life. So he built a church here – it was finished in around 1094.  Then in the late 13th century, it was remodelled into Battle Abbey.”

“Wow, that’s some history! How on earth do we follow that?”

“How about some lunch?”

“Good thinking, Plunkett!”
Paddy and Plunkett have a Picnic - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

Save

Paddy and Plunkett Reach Beachy Head - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

Life is Beachy for Paddy and Plunkett!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Paddy and Plunkett

Paddy and Plunkett Hit The Beach - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesIt’s back to Blighty on the BeastieBlog today! As it turns out, Paddy and Plunkett are still in beautiful Sussex, and they’re finding plenty there to keep them entertained. We’ll join them on the beach in a minute, but first they wanted to share a couple of photos from the village of East Dean, which they passed through on the way… Check out the famous former “resident” of this picturesque cottage!
Sherlock Holmes Lived Here - H CrawfordCrawCrafts BeastiesA little further along the road, the boys came to Birling Gap, where they got their first glimpse of the stunning white cliffs known as the Seven Sisters.
First Glimpse of the Seven Sisters, East Sussex - H Crawfor/CrawCrafts BeastiesAnd they really are WHITE! Plunkett was kicking himself for not thinking to pack his sunglasses!
Plunkett Being Dazzled at the Seven Sisters - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesThe cliffs maintain their shiny brightness thanks to natural erosion – the soft chalk rock is constantly being nibbled away by the sea, which means that plants and lichens never really get a chance to take over the pristine white surface. Because of this, the Seven Sisters are often used as a stand-in for the more famous White Cliffs of Dover in films and TV… The Dover cliffs are so close to the huge international port that they’re no longer allowed to erode naturally, so they’re a little less white than they used to be!

Let’s follow the boys down onto the beach!
Paddy and Plunkett Among the Pebbles - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesWith all those white pebbles lying around, it would be quite easy to lose them down here – they’re surprisingly well camouflaged!

After a few games of hide and seek among the stones, the lads decided to spend the afternoon strolling along the clifftop path which links Birling Gap with Beachy Head. On the way, they passed the wonderfully-named Belle Toute lighthouse… Although it was never considered a particularly good lighthouse (according to Wikipedia, its position on the clifftop meant that sea mists often obscured the light, and those people who most needed to be able to see it – sailors venturing too close to the rocky shore – had their view blocked by the cliffs), it is a well-known local landmark, and it’s even appeared on the silver screen a couple of times! And it’s lucky that it’s so popular – in 1999, the cliffs Belle Toute stands on threatened to crumble away from under it and drop it into the sea, so the whole lighthouse was picked up and moved inland! It’s now enjoying a comfortable retirement as a B&B, safe from the ravages of the tides, and its job has been taken over by a much younger, better positioned lighthouse.

Here it is – Beachy Head Lighthouse, which greeted the boys at the end of their wander!
Paddy and Plunkett Reach Beachy Head - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesWhere will you be spending this weekend? Be sure to share your adventures with us in the comments!

Paddy, Plunkett and the Sundials - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

Kings of the Castle!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Paddy and Plunkett

Paddy and Plunkett at Arundel Castle - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesHmmm, who’s that lurking in the undergrowth outside Arundel Castle? Paddy and Plunkett picked the perfect day to explore this mediaeval castle in West Sussex – just look at that sunshine! Let’s join them as they take a trip around this incredible place, which has been the home of the Dukes of Norfolk (and their predecessors) for nearly a thousand years!

Given the most un-British weather that day, it made sense for them to start in the rose garden…
Paddy, Plunkett and the Sundials - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesThere were a only a few roses out, but the boys found a sundial to keep themselves entertained! That said, it wasn’t long before they were overcome with curiosity… Time to explore the castle! Let’s go!
Climbing the Stairs to the Keep - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesPaddy Gawps at Arundel Castle - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesArundel Castle is a bit of an architectural hodge-podge – the oldest parts were built in the late 11th century and subsequent generations left their mark on the building, both inside and out. In the late 16th-early 17th century, the 14th Earl of Arundel (nicknamed “the Collector Earl”) went on a bit of an interiors shopping spree, and many of his purchases can still be found in the castle today! Although the castle was damaged in the English Civil War, repairs were eventually carried out in the early and late 1700s, and a further round of restoration, completed in 1900, produced the remarkable building that stands today.

All this means that architecture buff Plunkett is in seventh heaven! However, Paddy maybe isn’t the most willing audience for his musings…
Very Different Beasties - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties…Not when he can hang out with the man-at-arms and his cat, anyway!
Paddy, Man-at-Arms in Training - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesAt least it’s given Plunkett a chance to brush up on his Latin.
Plunkett and Monk, Latin Enthusiasts - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesThey also met a former castle resident in the private chapel – well, kind of.
Paddy, Plunkett and the Duchess - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesBut the bright sunshine soon lured the lads back outside. It would be a shame to miss the opportunity to see the gardens in all their glory! First stop was this formal garden, created as a memorial to the “Collector Earl”, which was full to bursting with beautiful tulips. Then they headed to the Stumpery – a novel concept garden where native woodland plants are encouraged to grow over the stumps of felled trees. This creates a really unusual and artistic display… and a great habitat for local wildlife!
Arundel Castle Gardens - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesThe boys also encountered a few curiosities on their travels… A whole family of scarecrows, and a rather unusual sign!
Arundel Garden Curiosities - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesPaddy thought it might have been the first cryptic clue in a treasure hunt… He spent the rest of the day trying to figure out what it meant. Perhaps he’ll have something to show for his mental exertions next time we catch up with these two!

What have you all got planned for the weekend? For any yarn-lovin’ folks out there, don’t forget that tomorrow is World Wide Knit In Public Day – what better excuse to grab your needles and make a start on a fun new project?

Enjoy!

 

 

Paddy and Plunkett, Centurions - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

Roman Around With Paddy and Plunkett!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Paddy and Plunkett

Paddy and Plunkett, Centurions - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesIt may have been a while since we last caught up with Paddy and Plunkett, but that doesn’t mean that they haven’t been up to their usual tricks! Last month they set off to the south east of England, hoping to escape the decidedly un-spring-like weather we were enduring here in Ireland at the time. Luckily for them, they were greeted by sunny days, and lots of fun things to do!

Plunkett got to choose the first port of call – Fishbourne Roman Palace – but as you can see above, Paddy insisted they get into character first! Plunkett soon retook the lead though… here he is admiring the famous “Cupid and Dolphin” mosaic inside the palace.
Plunkett Appreciating the Mosaics at Fishbourne - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesFishbourne Palace is considered the largest Roman villa discovered in the UK to date, and some of the decorated mosaic floors are in perfect condition. Plunkett asked a passing human to take a picture of this one for him as a souvenir – look at the detail!
Closeup of the Boy and Dolphin Mosaic at Fishbourne - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesBut not all of the villa is in this pristine state. Other past inhabitants of this area have left their mark on Fishbourne too – look what the boys found here!
That Shouldn't Be There! Saxon Burial at Fishbourne - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesAccording to our trusty friend Wikipedia, Fishbourne burnt down in around 270AD, and was subsequently abandoned. Apparently they were doing extensive renovations at the time, so perhaps the builders decided to focus their energies on building a new villa, instead of fixing up an old one. Paddy is reasonably sure that this could have been the first recorded instance of an insurance scam, but Plunkett, as usual, needs more convincing. Anyway, many years later, the site was used as a Saxon burial ground – some of the graves cut right down through the mosaic floors! A few of them, like the one above, have been left in situ… But some of the Saxon remains have been exhumed for closer inspection by curious visiting Beasties.
Paddy, Plunkett and the Saxon - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesOnce the lads had seen everything inside the villa, they headed outside to have a look around the grounds. The gardens have been restored and filled with the kind of plants the Romans would have had here back in the palace’s heyday, and also included a “Triclinium”, or outdoor feasting area.
Paddy and Plunkett at the Triclinium - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesThis would have been covered in sumptuous fabrics, allowing the family to sprawl around in the sunshine and enjoy tasty treats. Here’s Paddy demonstrating how to get the best out of your Triclinium.
How to use your Triclinium - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“I think I could get used to this, Plunkett! Pass the stuffed dormouse!”

After they’d enjoyed picnic-ing like Romans, Paddy got to choose the afternoon’s entertainment. He decided on a trip on the Chichester Ship Canal… the passenger boats are captained by volunteers, so all the proceeds from the hour-and-a-quarter-long cruise go towards the upkeep and restoration of the canal. There was plenty to see along the way…
Paddy Watching Wildlife - H Crawford/Crawcrafts Beasties…Or was there?
Paddy Takes the Wheel - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesUh-oh! We all know what happens when Paddy takes the wheel… I wonder where they’ll end up next?

Be sure to join us on Tuesday for more monster antics! And in the meantime, have a super weekend!

MiniBeastie at Wisley - LucyAnn and Luna Craft/CrawCrafts Beasties

Mini Beastie goes to Wisley

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Knitted Beasties

A couple of weeks ago, I got an email from LucyAnn at LucyAnn and Luna Craft. She told me that she’d finally had a chance to take her MiniBeastie for a trip to the Royal Horticultural Society’s garden at Wisley in Surrey, and the Beasties and I were so excited to see that she’d documented this micro-monster’s first day out in a post on her own blog! I thought it might be fun to share this with you all, so I’m going to take this opportunity to do my FIRST EVER REBLOG!
So, without further ado… Take it away, LucyAnn! And thanks again for taking the time and blog space to share your new little woolly buddy’s adventures with the world!