Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, April 1, 1949

To Gowanda—Zoar Valley Rd—to the Big Woods (scene of so many of the last years woods sketches). A cold cloudy day, wind from the east. With what elation I set forth, my first country sketching trip since last Dec. 4!—

No sign of yesterday’s snow at Hamburg—Between N. Collins and Gowanda, A fine wet snow commences. Stop at Taylor’s Grove buy 2 gallons of Maple Syrup.— By the time I reached the Big Woods, the snow had almost ceased falling. First for a walk in the ravine; a fine moment—the gaunt bare tree, with fine snow falling between, the distances hazed—the rattle of snow on dead leaves, the little brook singing—

Before lunch—I first chose my sketching spot—(planning to do a crow cawing from tree tops motif)—I find a suitable spot readily and set up my easel—then back to the car for lunch. Hepaticas just in bud here.

All afternoon on the sketch, with great pleasure, improvising freely & inventing symbols—the sky cleared about midafternoon, but I was able to proceed anyway—
Finished about six—the sun settling in a blaze of gold behind the wooded hills to the west. I dug a few hepaticas for B to put in a dish, then got a basket of rotten wood for the rhubarb. Then moved the car to the brow of the hill westward and ate my lunch. A pale moon sliver, almost horizontal. Then home. B thought the sketch one of my best.

Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, April 1, 1949