Because of Golden’s letter the other day asking for a Christmas design for 1953, I decided to do one patterned after the large “Star” – and made a pencil sketch of the size I wanted – also one of the old farmhouse and Norway spruces made south of Cherry creek in 1923(?) – 12x18 –
Call from Olmsted’s inviting us to a “pick-up” supper at Sardinia – Anderson’s there too. Bertha made potato salad and at the Graoz Dairy below E. Aurora, we picked up several kinds of cheese. A pleasant time – fortunately none of Harold’s relatives there, as usually happens, just the three couples – mostly talk – Harold likes to take the radical side of my question, and defend illegitimate babies at great length – Mrs. Anderson asked me about my new records I might have gotten – Niels is a strangely quiet fellow – talks little and seems always infinitely sad and discouraged – (and with reason – a fine etcher, he is forced to eke out a living doing commercial work.) Evie Olmsted as usual made her playful passes – she loves the center of attention – and has no patience with Harold’s volubility.
Harold, Niels & I drove to a nearby farm to pick up corn, a good supper of steak, corn, potato salad, cheese, tomatoes, and coffee.
We left about 10:30 – the moon up for an hour or so, and wonderfully brilliant, almost dazzling – I thought it would be fun to view the moon from some lonely country road so we drove out Girdle (from E. Aurora) & parked on the Blood Rd. near the intersection. A fine night; it filled us with longing for a home in the country. I noted how color disappeared under moonlight – “Butter and Eggs” look white – goldenrod grayish white, etc. – only green survived and that of a dull gray olive coloration. A field of tall corn by the road I thought it would be fun to walk thru it.
Charles E. Burchfield, September 4, 1952