Once dawn arrived, through the peephole in my front door, it didn’t look half-bad outside. I didn’t see any snow or ice in the driveway, and I was wearing my radio headphones and doing some kitchen chores, so I didn’t hear that wind gusting. The WJR weatherman said it was cold – well, of course it’s cold, it’s Winter! While I checked the fridge to get the garbage ready to go outside, my mind toyed with the idea of bundling up and going for a walk since I was headed out anyway. Well that bright idea soon vanished when I opened the screen door and it went flying and I had to grab the door with both hands to pull it back. Next time, I opened the door cautiously then slunk through the narrow opening and quickly pulled the door shut behind me, knowing my foray would be brief. As I stepped outside, an Arctic blast of air blew icy crystals off the awning over the door, whipping those frosty bits back at me and stinging my face. The wind gusts drilled right through the open weave of my wool hat and nipped at my ears and head as well. I decided all this bleak and dreary day would see of me was depositing the garbage bag and a quick trip to the garage to run the car. I opened the garage door and a whoosh of cold air and ice crystals streamed past my booted feet, swirled around the back of the car and then continued heading underneath the car with a vengeance. I started the motor and sat for a few minutes surveying the assorted pots and planters and colorful yard ornaments, thinking that this will be a long four months before they vacated their space on the shelves and migrated to their usual positions around the house and yard. While waiting for the fumes to clear, I grabbed my broom in search of icicles to whack, when another cold shot of snowy air blew in my face. Enough already! Of course this brutal and blustery day is just a harbinger of the next few days’ weather events, and further Winter maladies that ol’ Mother Nature has tucked up her cardigan sleeve. The weather folks are calling this next Deep Freeze event a “son of the Polar Vortex” … well, I don’t care what type kin or shirt-tail relative this new weather disturbance is, I already don’t like the sound of how it threatens to wreak havoc with our week. Time to hunker down as much as possible inside with some comfort food. It sure is easy to gain weight during the Winter months. You don’t have to wonder why Kraft proclaims they are running low on Velveeta cheese and a “Cheesepocalypse” is imminent. Not only are people gathered around watching football games and dipping their chips and crudités into smooth and creamy Velveeta, but bring on the baked macaroni oozing with Velveeta cheese and topped with a crispy baked-on crust. Kraft Dinner just is not the same, even though I close my eyes when I stick my spoon right into the pot and pretend, it isn’t made-from-scratch mac-and-cheese. My personal comfort food was always piping hot bread pudding with a dollop of ice cream. Well, today I heated up some chili to chase the chills away and had a crisp apple and slice of cheddar cheese as a chaser, but a girl can dream of comfort food from days gone by … those memories of good eatin’ warm my heart and fill me up to the brim and get me through these long, cold Winter days.