Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, January 3, 1962

The beginning of a thaw? Temperatures in the morning up to 34 – overcast sky, a moist wind from the S.W. 

About 11:00 B&I to Buffalo on various errands (Stuart & Bensons initials on my new billfold, the purchase of a change purse – O’Toole’s for lapel gold crosses & to pick up my rings at Tanke’s). Parked at the Huron Ramp, and dined at Oppenheim-Collins – Turkey slices & cauliflower casserole with a cheese sauce, very good. The waitress worried because she could not find a sugarless dessert for me.

Home packed the amplifier in the studio – Then B&I took it to the airport – The attendant said it should arrive at O’Hare in Chicago at 9:00 tonight. Then to Paul Batt’s in Lancaster to make a date to have the car repaired – (The driving messy and congested – in no time our wind-shields were opaque.) They said they could do the work tomorrow. One of the workmen drove us home in our car then took it back to the shop –

Evening as usual – TV, cards – then we got to discussing the water-color I did yesterday and this led to looking at the Jack Bauer book starting at the back, we went through the whole book, discussing each picture – I must confess this is one of the things I love to do at certain times, to review the past – a mellow mood surrounds me; the pictures seem good, and I have a feeling of accomplishment. It will not last, soon will come vague unrest, then the feeling that I have not said yet, what I can in painting if only I tried harder; and then the urge to try ever more difficult subjects.

It is growing warmer I remembered in the early evening that I had forgotten to lock the studio – Outside the S.W. wind had a wonderful soft caressing feeling – The snow is heavy and soggy.

Now, inside, the wind can be heard around the corners of the house – The melting roof-snow makes a loud clatter on the aluminum awnings over the kitchen windows. The night seems especially black.

Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, January 3, 1962