Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, February 20, 1941

Yesterday – cold and windy –

B & I to town – I got out at Emslie – (Bertha taking the car on to the Vendome) – I wanted to renew my impression of “Old Houses in Winter” preparatory to reframing & retouching it – I found the house on the right gone, and part of the other one torn down. I spent the morning wandering all around thru this neighborhood, and then walked downtown. 

We had lunch at AMA’s and then afterwards to market and home. 

A letter from Mr. Moe, who asks me to serve again on the Guggenheim next year.

At the supper table last night we all were hilarious; we told stories and indulged in nonsense.

In the evening Martha, who had been asked by her German teacher to make a drawing showing a scene in “Immensee” [a novella (1849-1851) by German author Theodor Storm], came down with a Surrealist impression of the scene which amused all of us greatly.

This morning when Bertha wanted to take the children to school, the car refused to start.  Later, I tried without any success – so to Nenner’s, who promised to come later in the morning-

A cold blizzardy day – inspiriting!

After my walk to the post office, I spent the morning in the house writing letters etc.

P.M. Nenner takes car to garage.

In Studio most of afternoon writing & studying the “Old Houses in Winter” –

Late P.M. to Nenner’s to see about car – then walk out to west end and back – fine blustery weather –

A scattered flock of crows headed northwest, buffeted by the wind, like paper fragments burnt black – How well they expressed the season and the weather –

Three pigeons cleave the air like darts, and are gone. 

Freed at last of the New York trip [to serve on the Guggenheim jury] and its impressions (there is only one way to get rid of them, and that is by writing them down. Life seems good to me, and all nature full of exciting interest.

Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, February 20, 1941