Summer 2024 Goal: The Ultimate Catventure, A Gathering at the Porter's, A Brief Weather Report and A Completed Porch
Summer 2024 Goal: The Ultimate Catventure
By Camilla Garrison
The Catventure was a tremendous success.
For those of you who don’t know, The Ultimate Catventure was a goal of the summer to take the Garrison Cats to the beach. It required purrfect conditions, of cool temperature, minimal peopleage, low tide, small waves, few cars and no wind (and if there was a small wind, blowing from the east, for best sand blast conditions.) Well, the stars had alined on July 29, 2024. This whole plan was currently hanging on the refrigerator in the Garrison home and was transferred to a clipboard once there was prospect of a catventure that day.
People could also play multiple roles.
The Garrisons had agreed to go at about 5:30 after the people had left the beach and the tide was going down. Just as they were getting ready though, it started to rain. Again. It had already rained that day about thrice, and everyone thought it was done after the sun came out. So all the Garrisons except Echo and Ember had dinner, and by that time, it was cleared up, and the weather was just right for a catventure. The journey had begun.
First the kittens were dressed in their harnesses and leashes and everyone was preparing for the worst case scenario. Camilla and Isaac put Ember in his backpack, and Echo in the gigantic travel carrier. The supplies were gathered, and the cats and their household staff left Claudia’s Surf City. The walk there went very well, except for the fact that there was a role switch almost to the beach stairs because Echo’s carrier was a trifle heavy. As soon as they got there, the cat blanket was spread out in the right spot, the carriers were set down, and yes, the cats were indeed let out of the bag. On the pre-catventure beach scoping walk Camilla and Isaac predicted the results of this experiment. Camilla thought they would either A.) Bolt B.) Crouch down on the blanket, or C.) Hide in the carrier. Isaac said “yes, or who knows? They might be completely fine.” Well Isaac, you were right. As soon as the bags were unzipped, Echo and Ember got out and explored for a good twenty minutes, they didn’t mind the crashing waves at all, and were more interested in walking around and sniffing seaweed.
The most surprising thing ever happened at the very end. While Camilla, Chris and Isaac were packing up Echo and the rest of the stuff, Hannah was holding Ember’s leash and he did something amazing. He started walking up the stairs to go home. Ember had memorized the way to the beach and back to the house on the few backpack training walks he had gone on with Camilla and Isaac. The past two times he had gone out in the backpack, Camilla had taken him to the bottom of the stairs to the beach and back across the road to the house. Ember made it up the stairs and was just following everyone down the road next to the dunes when a car came down the other side of the road and freaked him out. Luckily, Hannah was there to catch him, and he didn’t get out of his harness or even pass the white line. After a little while of carrying, Hannah and Camilla put him back in the backpack to go down the driveway over the puddles and mud. (Camilla did not in fact have white fur on her bare feet, and could walk through the mud without permanent damage)
That is what I would call a successful catventure. You think so?
Click the white arrows on the sides of the picture to scroll through!
A Gathering at the Porter's
By Camilla Garrison
Madison is home! Friday July 26, 2024 Madison Porter returned from her journeys across the globe, and on Sunday, a family/friends gathering took place at the Porter’s. Everyone feasted on steak, salad, corn pudding, garlic bread (made by Isaac!) ice cream, and root beer floats. Friday through Sunday, Mira Silverman was visiting the Garrison Residence so she got to attend the Gathering, until she left on the 8:30 ferry.
A Brief Weather Report
By Camilla Garrison
Hannah Garrison has a question for everyone on Block Island. “Does anybody else feel this heat/humidity?” For the past two days, August first and second, the Garrison fam had been melting at Claudia Surf City. Well we at least know Erin Porter and Poppy felt it, sitting in front of their fan all day; and that John Gasner felt it, taking five showers a day; but what about the rest of them? As you drive down Corn Neck Road into town, all you can see are the day-trippers and vacationers frolicking about on mopeds, bicycles, electric bicycles and their legs. You can see the bikers most clearly though, when they are riding on the wrong side of the road!
This morning, something strange happened, it was kind of cool out! We can’t tell yet, because its only very early morning, but you never know what’s going to happen with the Block Island Weather.
EDIT as of 10:24 AM: We were wrong, terribly wrong. It is hot. It is humid. Help us.
PRO TIP: Use Weatherbug, not the iPhone Weather App for the best results for Block Island.
This is what a very extremely warm cat looks like, Camilla felt so bad for him, she fed him and ice cube to lick out of her hand, and an icepack to lie on.
