Discovering the world around me.
Spring is here. Along with the winter-hardy cardinals, finches, house sparrows, downy woodpeckers and blue jays, new voices are joining the dawn chorus. We hear red-wing blackbirds, brown-headed cowbirds, and northern flickers. The juncos haven’t left yet but will soon. Robins have arrived, but they’re being quiet. The life on Owl Acres is waking up. […]
Continue reading Spring Is Here
There’s a lot of living going on outside on Owl Acres, but there’s also a lot of living going on inside the house. The principal actors, besides the humans, are two beautiful canines—Dave and Clancy. These two beings bring a verve and energy to our world that wouldn’t be here if we didn’t invite them […]
Continue reading The Canine Component: Dave and Clancy
Author’s note: I’m taking an unusual step to anchor today’s post in a moment. A reader has offered a comment, which I heartily endorse. Here it is: “Jimmy was probably the only kind and good hearted politician in history… Have a good 2025. It will likely be an interesting year.” One year when I was […]
Continue reading Christmas Tree: Fraser Fir
On a cool spring morning, we roll out of bed at 4:30. The goal is to watch the sun rise over Owl Acres. It’s been doing that forever, but I don’t remember many times, if ever, that I’ve paid attention to the sunrise per se. Today I have asked Bryan to narrate the event. We […]
Continue reading Prairie Sunrise
I have gained a heightened appreciation of the 500 or more families who take on the task of raising puppies for the Seeing Eye each year. It takes a lot of focus, attention and work just to get them housetrained, let alone all the other things that a new puppy needs to learn. And the […]
Continue reading A New Member of the Household: Clancy
Dave moved in last February. He doesn’t know this, but he is a dog. A big very light-colored yellow lab with long floppy ears, a nose that brings him the world, and a heart as big as Texas. He thinks he is a little puppy and likes nothing better than to climb into my lap, […]
Continue reading Introducing Dave
Owl Acres is a small patch of rural Iowa with woods, a yard, an open meadow, and a house where I live with my partner Bryan and my dog Dave. At evening and into the night, a pair of barred owls often calls through the trees, wooing and courting, discussing domestic issues, or arguing about […]
Continue reading Owl Acres
Hi. Welcome to Heartland Safari. My name is Karen Keninger. I’m writing this blog for fun and to fulfill a promise to myself (See About Owl Acres). Here are a few bits about me:
Continue reading Hello!