Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, September 25, 1954

After much indecision, I finally decided to go out painting – partially cloudy and a little rain at times.

Another glorious day, as on Monday, except even more beautiful. My theme – field flowers, wind, bearded meadows, and a stormy sky with wind-shaped clouds. For most of the afternoon very little sunshine, but later in the afternoon the character of the clouds gradually changed until “flats” of clouds were racing across a rich blue sky –

Just as I was finishing, a young boy (almost 12) came to see what I was doing. He thought I had a “beautiful” picture – His cheeks were as smooth and pink as a baby’s; he was shy, yet not ill at ease, a child of the soil and the outdoors, and consequently as attractive as any other creature of native such as a wild bird, or animal. He watched me, fascinated, as I took my paraphernalia apart – the numbers of “things” I had to do my work impressed him “It takes a one-man army to count that stuff” I told him I usually made two trips of it. He carried for me what I could not manage; then went in his way.

After I had had some tea and the remains of a chicken sandwich, I set out to explore the woods to the east – Dense hemlocks growths at intervals imparted to the woods a deep almost black gloom. I soon came to the end of the woods, and upon a scene of incredible beauty – open pastures & distant woods, in the level golden yellow sunlight, and the sky above with sunlit clouds. I could scarcely tear myself away from it.

Found some rotten birch trunks, which I emptied of the punk and took along for winter bouquet use.

Started homeward, but then then it seemed as if I would be missing the best part of the day so at Patchin I turned south on the Back Creek Rd, which I followed, [reveling] in the landscape, to the Pfarner Rd, which I followed to the Zimmerman Rd again. I parked at the customary “evening” spot, and made a drawing of the sunset. By this time, I was fagged out and ready for home.

Bertha thought the picture better than Mondays and so it seemed to me too.

Letters from Eddie LaFrance & Braasch. Braasch enclosed a check for $125 for the “Sunflowers & Insects” 1917 drawing which he saw at the studio – He also said he hoped the “In a Sept. Meadows” would be available.

Charles E. Burchfield, September 25, 1954