About Archives - Heartland Safari

Karen sits by the fireplace in a domestic moment with her dogs. Dave, the Yellow Lab working dog, sits at her feet in his usual, supplicant “pleeez feed me!” pose. Clancy, the Golden Retriever pet, assumes a somewhat undignified, submissive attitude under her bare feet.

The Canine Component: Dave and Clancy

Updated January 6, 2025

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 […]

Fraser Fir that drew the honor (misfortune?) of being our Christmas Tree this year, in its place in the living room. Tall and cone-shaped, it’s hung with baubles accumulated over years. The antique, incandescent lights connect today into the flow of yesterdays and tomorrows.

Christmas Tree: Fraser Fir

Updated December 30, 2024

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 […]

About
Trees

Prairie Sunrise

Updated May 29, 2023

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 […]

About

Photo of Dave, a Yellow Labrador Retriever, and Clancy, a Golden Retriever pup, catching some zzz’s on a mat on a sunlit tile floor. Favorite toys lie strewn on the floor next to the mat.

A New Member of the Household: Clancy

Updated March 26, 2025

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 […]

Karen stands with her new Seeing Eye dog on a platform in front of a gleaming Amtrak coach

Introducing Dave

Updated December 8, 2022

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, […]

About

Image of a tree stump that is carved into an owl with a dark red wooden shed in the background.

Owl Acres

Updated August 2, 2022

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 […]

About

Hello!

Updated March 26, 2025

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:

About