Charles Burchfield, Journals, March 7, 1962

Morning gray, with light on the southern horizon – Temp. 34° - By early afternoon, the sun came out and it seemed like spring –

In studio most of the day working on “The Heavens Declare” and somewhat to my surprise bringing it more or less to a conclusion – In fact, I had doubts about it, since I practically finished it [in] about a week’s time – However when I took it into the house, Bertha insisted it was beautiful as well as logical – that I had reached the point where I did less fumbling because I had the experience of a life-time at my disposal.

The red-bird singing all day – his main “stomping ground” seems to be our willow tree – I discovered I had some sunflower seeds, so early in the afternoon I put some under the willow tree, and some also on the studio roof. The sun made the air delightfully mild –

Evening – to East Aurora, the first of the mid-week Lenten services. The solemnity of the season - One of the hymns ‘Go to Dark Gethsemane’.

After the service we drove over on the Girdle Road and parked near Blood Road so we could get a view of the sky unhampered by lights (except those of passing cars of which there were annoyingly too many!) The southwest sky blazing with the stars and constellations I used in my picture, an awesome sight. In the northeast the Big Dipper in its winter-early spring position. Which I call “Ballooning the Dipper” The dipper bowl at the top, the handle in a vertical position –

It was a fine moment for us to alone under the vast sky –
Home, and played Canfield –
Bedtime music – Sonatas the “High Castle” and “Moldan” – and the Virgil Thomson music.

Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, March 7, 1962