September 24, 2026- When Hana is annoyed at something, she utters a mild groan. A few times today, especially as her mother was getting ready to leave for work and again, when it took a bit longer to get the safety straps and tray attached to the high chair, her guttural expression took flight.
She has been feeding herself quite well, of late. Of course, the results are what one would expect of an infant or toddler, but she does get most of the food into herself, sometimes after a few tries. She is getting better at taking the spoon and putting food into her mouth, though it may take two tries to empty the spoon. I attribute that to her not having a full set of teeth.
Hana also was more willing to walk with me holding her hands, and walking backwards, in front of her. For the first time, today she walked a bit, inside the playpen, with my holding her by one hand and being at her side. I hope to get her to do more of both, over the next several days.
HANA’S NOTE– I was stuck on playing with the price tag on my Mexican doll. Papa and Daddy took it, and said it was plastic and they didn’t want me to eat it. I was sad to lose that tag, but a cloth book made me feel better.
EXPANDING CIRCLES: Colorado- The Rocky Mountain State has been also like home to me, over the years, in many respects. One of my sisters-in-law lived in the Denver area for several years, and our niece still lives there.I have friends in several parts of the state, as well.
The turf- Mountains make up about 2/5 of the state’s terrain; the Rockies proper taking up the middle third and the San Juan Range forming something of a boot, in the southwest corner. High Desert takes up most of the western third, save the area of the San Juans. High Plains take up the eastern third. Still and all, Colorado is the only state where I have seen snow in each of the twelve months of the year. The state is well-drained: The Colorado River, Rio Grande, Animas, San Juan, Arkansas, North and South Platte and Little Snake Rivers all either begin here or flow swiftly through.
First Nations- Colorado is the ancestral home of Dineh (Navajo), Nuutsiu (Ute), Yapudttka, Pahdteeanooch, Kahpota, Mobach, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Jicarilla Apache,Yamparika and Numunuu(Comanche). Puebloan communities left their ruins at Mesa Verde and Chimney Rock, both now tended by the National Park Service. In the annals of relations between Native Americans and the U.S. Army, Sand Creek remains hallowed ground. On November 29, 1864, Colonel John Chivington led a force of 675 Cavalrymen on a slaughter of 150 Arapaho and Cheyenne villagers, 2/3 of whom were women and children. I visited Sand Creek, a few years ago, and could only stand in solemnity. There is no honour in one-sided slaughter, despite what Chivington claimed, to his dying day.
Where I feel most at home: Cortez, Walsenburg, Del Norte, Black Forest, Manitou Springs, Boulder, Glenwood Springs.
NEXT- Utah
