May 5 [1972, private journal]
I’m at Yaddo. Mackerel day - grey + lavender. I’m a bit high on gin thanks to David [del Tredici] who is loveable as ever. David + Ned [Rorem] are here and that’s enough. A few days of this grey without rain, of course, will be exciting for my new subject. Go at it easy. Already I look forward to tomorrow morning’s icy stint - for yes it’s cold. Hence pastels, not water color.
....
(The sun is coming out - everything is sparkling!) My sketches don’t delight me except for the portraits. I’ll be good at it again now that I can paint thicker + fresher + with browns.

The new green has barely begun. What a pleasure to see the trees this way. What a pleasure to make fire in the stove. The warmth of this place.

May 7. [1972, Yaddo] early morning
cold. Delicious nonetheless outside. I make fire + sit on the ground. No color in a box is the right color: a combination of tints has to be found. Heathery colors.