Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, December 30, 1961

Dec. 30 – Saturday –

The first really big snow-storm – light fluffy snow that clung in heavy masses on everything it touched (on the trash-burner it looked like enormous puff-ball or marshmallow).

After breakfast I ran the car out a couple of times (with no difficulty) so as to have the drive open. As the morning progressed the snow became thicker and heavier and I gave up the idea of keeping the drive open.

Bertha and I had our usual argument as to who would suffer the most from sweeping or shoveling –

To the studio – continued mounting the drawings; work that should have been done years ago – of particular interest to me are all the large studies of the Baptist Church in Salem, made in 1926 and which later were used in producing the 1937 “Sunday Morning” –

Got the large tracing – drawings “August Twilight” and “January After-glow” – the latter suggests an immediate working over.

By early afternoon the snow ceased falling, and the sun came out briefly. I called the “Bob and Stan” garage, asking them to plow out the drive. They did soon after, doing a nice job.

At noon during the playing of Handel’s Messiah the sound suddenly stopped, altho the turn-table was still going.

Now at bed-time, it is frustrating to have no music. I did not feel I could call Hank because earlier in the day, Mart had called and said that he had been called out at 3:00 a.m. and she hadn’t seen or heard from him since (his job in an emergency like this is to receive requests, complaints, and dispatch the plows to where they are most needed)

So, no bedtime music.

Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, December 30, 1961