Living in the Middle of the Vortex

Well this season's catch phrase is "polar vortex".  It is the phrase that the weather folks have been using to describe the arctic assault we've been victimized by for several weeks now.  Actually I haven't minded it much at all.  Knock on wood, our furnace keeps churning and the water pipes have not frozen.  All of us have been forced into our "cabins" for a number of days now as a result of driving restrictions and bans.  I count myself lucky because I have a warm home to hibernate in and although John got into a minor accident(no injuries and only a couple scrapes on the bumper of his car), we have been quite fortunate.  I worry about the homeless and the poor who have little choice for sheltering and whose utilities may have been shut off for non-payment.  Ironically the news services(at least that I have heard) have not mentioned these folks at all.  Perhaps there are safety nets out there for these less fortunate people. One can only hope that is the case. 

Here at home we have been frequently seeing cat tracks left in the fresh snow and ringing a path around our pole building, across the driveway and up onto our porch.  I caught a glimpse of this phantom cat only twice, once before winter began to pummel us and then a couple weeks ago I spied hindquarters and tail disappear quickly behind the pole building.  This seemingly feral cat displays a classic fear of humans.  I wish we could somehow tell it that we'd probably let it live in the pole building if it would not run from us.  In the meantime we put out a daily bowl of cat chow on our porch.  The tracks indicate that Phantom does appreciate our efforts.  

I bundled up and headed into Fire Arts today.  The driving bans have been lifted and it is time to open the studio to our artists who have been locked out of their spaces since Saturday.  Two artists showed up within the first hour my arrival.  One must feed one's addictions.  I have work that needs doing as well, pots to finish, and some that dried prematurely because I couldn't get to them in time.  Oh well, did them once, can do it again...and better.  That is an early lesson I  learned from Tom Meuninck, my high school art teacher who is a phenomenal potter.  I am so lucky to have had him as a mentor during my formative years. Time to get my hand muddy. Peace and stay warm.