Fine autumn weather—Clear skies, warm sunshine—And wonderful cool breezes from the south—A calm quietness has settled over all things. The odor of burning leaves—What an intoxication!
It is almost an insult to nature to go to school on such days. I long for the woods. —The woods! —I often wonder what I am, naturalist or artist, for the pursuit of one hinders the other—I seem always to be deciding which it shall be—of course it must be artist, for it [i.e. I] must live, but I am hoping for a day when I can give myself entirely to nature.
Charles Burchfield, October 8, 1913