A cathartic spume spread upon the terrestrial environment today. Everything appeared calculated to render a freeing nature to the day. The morning grey cosmic masses incrementally dissolved beneath a light blue sky and fleeting white billows. The corn stalks continued their upward surge, shimmering green in the light wind and mounting brilliant sunshine.
The Breakfast Cookie at Neat Café in Burnstown, Renfrew County was among the several reasons we had to visit there this Sunday morning. In my opinion the Breakfast Cookie is a special favourite – a conglomerate of oats, nuts, dates and raisins. The bacon, eggs and fresh fruit are another compelling choice. And all this in addition to the pleasant drive there, the affable staff and overall convenience of the spot. It is always a memorable outing. It was that again today.
Today is Sunday, Canada Day weekend. When we arrived on the property at 8:30 am there were no others already seated, neither inside nor outside. I wondered whether it were superfluous to have emailed the café last evening to request a reservation for two. The Proprietor Mark Enright had dutifully responded to my request at 2:30 am this morning – apologizing for his anticipated absence from the scene upon our arrival. In his stead – or should I say, on his behalf – we were attended at table by his young daughter who informed us of her successful graduation to 2nd year studies at Carleton University and her pending location to an apartment near Dow’s Lake and the university.
Not long after our arrival the place began filling up with cyclists and vehicular transients accompanied by their dog.
We have frequented Neat Café for at least the past decade so we feel distantly involved with the evolving family ventures. Our initial acquaintance with Mark Enright recalls his vibrant youthfulness and continued dedication to the business which is celebrated for its musical performances.
We took the long way home, capitalizing upon the early morning start. But after our intermediate shopping, upon our return home, we each succumbed to the natural absorption of a satisfying meal, our collective molecules dissipating into the atmosphere. It was for us both a profound and restful nap, a release from it all, awakening to the subtle confluence of where we’re at, where we’ve been and where we’re going. The earthiness of the day was punctuated by an unanticipated telephone call from a dear friend in Nova Scotia where he and his wife have successfully catapulted themselves into an ideal venue reminiscent of a perpetual vacation by the sea.
For my part – notwithstanding my love of the sea – the grounding authority remains the Town of Mississippi Mills. We continue to pursue the possibility of an east coast adventure; but at the same time we’ve today invoked a reference to Mont Tremblant, PQ. The limitations and invitations of this vast country of Canada inspire numerous alternatives, including travel by land, rail, air and sea. Not insignificantly, upon commencing my routine tricycle ride late this morning, I chatted with a neighbour in the apartment building about our growing community. As the trees and shrubbery mature, as the repeat frequency of people develops, as the boats drift aimlessly along the river, the image consolidates as a notable portion of Canada.