Charles Burchfield, Journals, December 12, 1916

Snowy December Day—Sun has feeling of being far far away; houses crouch + seem squatty (exaggerate this, leaving trees tall with only a few main branches) —of everything being remote + closed up—all objects seem far away + elusive + small—wind edges of houses blurred—Trees have feeling of shrinking within themselves. During a flurry a fleeting patch of sunlight passed over a house—it was pale gold + seemed to come from a remote and unearthly source—

When it is not snowing near objects on first glance seem glittering black—

After dusk a weird whitish glow at zenith; against it clawlike trees.

Charles E. Burchfield, December 12, 1916