I just wanted to say - before the fine-fine Nigerien dust comes seeping into our house again - that in time for Hanna’s arrival, Anette and I spent many, many hours spring cleaning the house to make it look at its very best and boy did it shine! Now that our guest has arrived, we can slowly accustom her to the ordinary state of Nigerien dust in our home. 
Dust is really one of the top Nigerien expats’ nightmares, lol! Unless you have time to clean daily, dust is unavoidable. Don’t ask me where it comes from - it just “leaks” into the house, through closed doors and windows, fine and petitish as it is. We try to keep it to a minimum, but housecleaning à la Swedish standard takes an entire day, and the day after, it’s already starting to come back. Thankfully, Hanna has been to Africa before, so a little dust won’t scare her off. Cockroaches, scorpions and geckoes however might. Good thing we don’t have plenty of those!! Ha - we hardly even have lizards on the veranda anymore after Sheba moved in!
Sheba with her catch - no wild lizzards allowed on her space!
21 users commented in " Spring cleaned! "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackOh Esther, I know all about African dust from my stay in West Africa. During the winter the dust was especially bad. Well done on making your home look so shiny and clean. Welcome to Hanna. Sheba looks as if she takes this bit of ole lizard slaying in her stride! Hugs Jo
I love the bright colours in your room. It looks like an IKEA showcase. Every dog needs a job to do, but even when we lived in Africa I do not remember our dog killing lizards.
Wow, it looks beautiful. The dust I battle with comes from the wood stove ash all winter long and then the summer desert dust and also shedding dog fur. Sheba looks like she doesn’t shed though, does she? That wild lizard hunter!
Dust is also the bane of my existence here in Texas. We have lizards, scorpions, and spiders, too. And that room looks so cheerful and inviting. I’m sure Hanna feels right at home.
Tres joli Salon… Mariage of colors (blue dominating) is so natural… Very beautifull!
Kos dere masse med besøket! Og jeg er skråsikker på at besøket storkoser seg og
Og, du - du skulle hatt John der nede - han er helt rååå med støvfilla. Tørker og tøreker - jeg rekker aldri å oppdage at det er støvete før han har vasket det bort
Deilig å ha en mann som ordner sånt som man ikke er så glad i selv 
Super duper helg til dere! Klem fra Norge
Oh Esther, your home is very pretty and very colorful.
We also have a dust problem on Oak Lane in Garden Valley in the summer time because Oak Lane is a gravel and dirt road, and we usually don’t get any rain from May through September or October. So it’s muddy in the winter and spring, dusty in the summer and fall.
The colorful cushions and curtains brighten up your room. I can imagine dust is a problem there. when the wind blows from the desert areas, dust is a problem here, too.
Sheba is a good hunter! I hope she nabs the cockroaches, too.
I love your furniture, blue is my favorite color. Looks like such a comfortable place to sit down and visit. I can’t imagine the dust, I live on a gravel road and the dust is horrible. From your beautiful pictures of the area, I know it is nothing compared to there though. I just can’t imagine!
your living room looks very inviting!
Thanks everyone!
Welcome in for a Swedish fika!!
how convenient to have your very own lizard hunter! our girls have never seen lizards, but they are avid fly hunters.
Wow Sheba, you really caught that lizard! It looks scary but I know you are very brave….me, I’m a bit of a chicken for a Ridgeback. I read above that Rouxby and Kinley cathc flies…I’m even freaked out by those buzzing little deomons.
Good job again!
Nala
Sounds a bit like China dust, it doesn’t matter if all the doors and windows are closed…the day after you clean you may as well have not bothered!
Sheba looks very rakish there.
Behold! The fierce lizard hunter!! Well….not quite lions but hey! a girl has got to make due with what she has…..:)
Oou that lizzard has seen better days!
I love the blue room accents! Blue is a favorite color of mine.
Have fun with Hanna, you girls.
Kac
@Jo: I often wonder if there is any dust as fine as the West African?
Sheba was first introduced to the art of hunting lizards from Kinza, but learned how to catch them by watching Baloo. She is practicing every day!
@Ruth: Few Azawakhs here bother to chase lizards, but those that do are often successful. At the Eden office, we have a German shepherd who has been chasing lizards for every waking hour. During her six year stay, I have seen her catch too! Sheba did well in choosing Baloo as her mentor!
@Loran: Thanks! No, Sheba doesn’t seem to shed. I am amazed at how little maintenance her coat is.
@Leah: Sheba would be right at home in Texas then!
@Zadyyyg: Thanks!!
@Lene: Lol!
@Pat: Aw, thanks! My favourite thing about rainy season is that after every rain comes a dust free moment!
@Janie: I don’t think Sheba has encountered a cockroach yet, but I hope she goes for every one of them! Those are probably my least favourite insect of all!
@Shiloh: The thing about the dust is that it is so fine, it reminds me of cement powder in shape!
That dog is just sweet!
I love your room- so bright and cheery!
I have extreme dust, especially from the woodstove during the winter. As soon as I am done burning fires, I intend to do a THOROUGH house cleaning and get rid of stuff too. But then, I say that every year! Hopefully, this year I will be disciplined enough to do it.
Another similarity of your desert and mind… the dust. When I first moved here, I did not have my busy life established yet, so I clean all day, every day. My house was immaculate all the time. But it was autumn, and I did NOTHING but clean. By Spring I was busier, and the spring winds (dust storms) came. I learned to not bother. In an hour it looked like I had not dusted. I really only did it for visitors and special occasions!
Attaway Sheba! You go girl. What a fabulous security system you have here.
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