Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, December 13, 1962

When I awoke about 8:00, the air was full of a heavy snowfall –

We thought we would have to give up our planned trip to Buffalo shopping, but by the time we were through breakfast, the snow had ceased, and the sun shown hazily over the creek.

It was not “secure” driving – we had one skid all over the road on the lead into the Thruway, but by going slowly we got in all right –

At A.M.& A. – got some new “pots & pans” for Bertha. Then had lunch there, after which to Tanki’s – I wanted to get a more “personal” gift for her. We found just the right thing in a “gold” rope necklace, with earrings to match. Very beautiful – and over Bertha’s protests that it was too expensive, bought it.

To Ulbricht’s for various things. Then to the framers for the small pictures, & then to Fox & Staniland for glasses – then home.

Had tea, then called John to “pass the time of day” – He told me that he had just sold “March Wind in the Woods” and “Waiting for the Trolly”.

Evening music – Tchaikovsky’s, “Nutcracker” (Excerpts) (a bad rendition in many ways, I must replace it) and Rimsky-Korsakov’s, “Snow Maiden Suite” and “Skazka” – Fairy-tale.

Two dream fragments –

A town in southern Kentucky – I stopped in at a sort of antique shop – there on a wall I saw a number of strange abstract paintings, which were not abstract in the conventional sense, but quite original and naïve, with charming color schemes – Altho I cannot actually remember any of them. A young [woman] came to wait on me – I asked about the paintings and said I would like to meet the artist – with some deference she ushered me into a backroom, where I saw the artist sprawling on a davenport by a table, (presumably he was her husband.) He seemed annoyed at my intrusion, and with reason. He was armless, and had his bare feet on the table with brushes held between his toes – He executed the paintings with his feet – I said to him that his paintings out to be shown in New York, and that if he wished I would undertake to introduce them to some dealer – He said if they were, I must promise not to reveal how he did them as he could not stand the vulgar curiosity that would ensue. I promised I would keep his secret…

2 – Bertha and I were coming home from a shopping trip in town to find both Plavcan and Art Moll busy working at our house and yard. Moll & his helpers putting folding doors all over the house, while the Garden Mart crew were busy planting thousands of bulbs in the yard; some of them were beginning to grow, and a row of dark plum-colored Darwin Tulips were in bloom…

Charles E. Burchfield, December 13, 1962