Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

 two hours, there would be something more to see. The cold wind drove them home. Punctually she came back in just two hours. She asked if it would be all right to have the “boys” come to see it too, of course I consented & they all left their work to come & admire.It was a fine day, altho the wind made it difficult and I had to resort to several impromptu schemes to hold the card board & easel in place; not too successful, which made accental [sic] detail changes difficult. In other ways, tho the wind added to the mood of the day, driving before it long horizontal bars of whispy [sic] vapors, that first dimmed the sun to a soft glow, then blanketed it altogether… It did not reappear until it was close to the horizon; then it came forth brilliantly for a few minutes, lighting up the red apples on a tree across the road, in beautiful silhouettes in front of a woods. I put all my things in the car, then set out to explore the woods. Then moon (full) was already up a soft orange glow dimmed by mists. The rank odor of rotting leaves coming up from the floor of the woods, the wind roaring in the tree-tops—I regretted not bringing my sketchbook, so hastened back to the car & went back to the woods & made a few studies.I ate my lunch in the car. By now the moon was higher and shone clearly into the car. Afterwards I took a short walk down the road. To the north, a wide valley then rolling hills, covered with dark woods and bleached out dead grass that, lit up by the moonlight became a pale brownish lavender. Above a bank of feathery clouds, and at its edge, the big dipper or great Bear. The insistent wind from the S. W, roaming over the grass & weeds, had a haunting quality. I hated to end the day & yet it could not go on. Always when sunlight falls & I am out, the longing to see Bertha grows so great I can hardly stand it. So soon on my way home