and here I thought we did well to get rid of mice and bats :) I'm not quite ready to hire a house cleaning crew, but it is something I have suggested to others :) note to self: don't be a hypocrite.

mousemaker, sounds like you are in somewhat of a funk! I think the holidays bring that out sometimes. I live in the desert area of Arizona and there is always plenty of sunshine but also plenty of dust. But I do hate the fact that it gets dark out early. Wait until the winter solstice begins and the sun will slowly begin staying up longer. I so look forward to that.

I have also lived in Alaska, so I know about it being dark in the winter. Go to work in the dark, come home in the dark and that was only 9:00 until 3:00! Horrid, I hated it but boy did I ever love the summers. Light almost 24 hours a day. Joyous to say the least. You know they have four seasons in Alaska; June, July, August and winter! And that is just about correct.

Now the dust. Horrid isn't it? Although I guarantee I have much, much more here, especially in the summer. We get awful dust storms that blanket everything in its path. House, plants, trees, everything. Since we do not have a pool, all patio furniture, etc. is covered up all summer long. The reverse of what you do in the summer!

I find it hard to believe that places like Wisconsin have much dust as everything is green and pasture-like in my mind. When the wind blows, does dust come along with it like here? And I do wish my house looked like one of those homes in a magazine, etc., everything neat and tidy and dust free. :))

moi? in a funk? :) note to self: you revealed too much!!!
It is green and lovely here, but yes, alas, we do have dust. So you pick states to live in that start and end with A? :) next must be Alabama or perhaps Arkansas if you leave off the S :)
last summer we had an infestation of some kind of icky bug that left brown spots everywhere. My neighbor told me (when asked how she was coping) said they were "just part of the family now". So I did end up doing some cleaning because it was just awful--sprayed the garage which was covered in them eeewwwwww.
We don't have a pool either. it would be last on my list of things I want. and yes, I know that's stunning. I am holding on until it gets lighter, you are right! I think holidays were planned so we don't go nuts in the dark.

Well, I wasn't sure how to take it! You are probably like me here in the summer, I get sooo sick of the heat and I feel like a vampire, only go out during the day when I have to. Most shopping is done when the giant ball of flame is down! And by the end of summer which is sometimes never, I get tired of the a/c going all the time and I want fresh air.

And when it does finally get nice out and the evenings start to cool, somewhat, we get the neighbors who think it is cold out and they start up either fireplaces or outside fire pits. Then we have to close everything so our house doesn't smell like it is on fire! Sometimes you can't win.

Oh, btw, lived in Alabama!

I love the heat. can't be hot enough!! sorry :) I hardly ever turn on the air unless we're really desperate :)

If only I could just quit renovating I'd be happy to just clean my house! ( I think)