Charles Burchfield, Journals, April 5, 1911

It seems, these days, as though I haven’t been observing Nature very much, as much as I would like to. Financially, I am glad that I have work this vacation, but in my real heart I would like to be roaming out in the fields and woods, to study Nature, and see all the signs of awakening spring. I know that flowers are awakening and blooming, and I am not there to see! The work at the shop is so dull and monotonous, that sometimes I am tempted to run away from it all and enjoy the rare spring breezes to my hearts content.

This morning we had to address envelopes, and my head became so numbed, that I took every opportunity to go out and enjoy the rainy wind. Several times in the morning, the warm April rain came down in roaring torrents, so heavy that the roof overhead resounded. It had been cool at first in the morning, but once which I was out doors, the wind was very warm, and came from a warm grey sky, rippling bright pools of freshly fallen water.

In the afternoon King and I both felt, as we termed it, “rotten.” King was sick, and I was dead tired, and the headache so bad that I decided not to go down to the Opera House, but when night came, I felt a little better, and went down. There was quite a crowd again tonight and seemed to like the show as well. Jay Kling led the Orchestra and they had better time than last night. Everything came off alright as before.

Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, April 5, 1911