Charles Burchfield, Journals, November 15, 1962

Cold, heavy frost – mostly sunny all day, with a few sand-bar like clouds – milder in the afternoon –

a.m. – writing checks for various charities & bills –

Noon Mart (driving), Bertha & I town lunch at H’s –

Then we went our separate ways – I to Ulbricht’s and then to D.C. & D’s where I bought several McKellar & Kennedy Scotch folk-song records; Bach’s St. Matthew Passion (cond. By Klemperer)  - ordered a new recording of Borodin’s 2^nd & 3^rd Symphonies & also Tch’s violin Conc. played by Milstein.

We had arranged to meet at the rear of H’s about 1:45-2:00 – Arriving there, I found only Bertha. She said Mart was picking out a scarf – I asked her if she hadn’t found anything for herself – she said yes, a dress she thought she had to have – when I asked her if she had bought she said she didn’t know if she should. That was enough for me – So I went to get Mart, who we found was unable to choose between two scarves – Thinking she was buying the scarf herself. I said, “Well, take both of them, I’ll pay for one-“ and she said, “Well mom is buying me the other” at which we all laughed. I told her at least she should pay the sales tax.

Then to the dress department, where Bertha suggested I guess which one she wanted – I did not hesitate it was a simple dress with a short jacket woven with gold and silver threads. They did not have her size but said they would order it.

Home, we had tea – then Mart left.

Letter from M. V.H. [Martha Visser’t hooft] – in regard to the new Zuni Gallery in Buffalo, whose director wants to show some w.cs [watercolors] of mine.

Evening music – The new recording of the Tsch. Violin Concerto – magnificent playing and sound. Also one of the McKellar-Kennedy records – and finally – The Sibelius 5^th Symphony & the Karelia Suite.
Reading nightly a few pages in the condensed version of “Seven Days in May” Now something made me think of nasturtiums, and immediately memories of all the flowers Jim used to raise flooded my mind – petunias, four-o-clocks, morning glories, zinnias, pansies, etc. I now live without them but should I? and how do I? – All at once it seems intolerable to do so.

Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, November 15, 1962