Hubby's New Door

Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is screaming into the home stretch.  My house is an odd mixture of fall leaves and pumpkins and red and green sparkles as I begin the exchange of decorations.  The boxes of ornaments, decorations, and wrapping paper have been drug out of the attic and are scattered over the upstairs.  I'm beginning to wake up at night planning the food to be prepared and stashed for the coming family meals.  So naturally, Hubby has decided its the perfect time to remove the door to my utility room and replace it. 


The door in question, which was a brand new door when we built the utility room a few years ago, has never latched.  It also sits at a strange slant which allows warm air to seep between the storm door and inside door causing ice to build up on the outer door.  It has defied all attempts to adjust and realign and drives Hubby crazy.  Our son, explained that when it was installed it lined up perfectly square and straight from the outside but is strangely off kilter from the inside. 


I am not surprised.  We live in an old house.  The original door into the old utility room didn't latch either.  It looked like it did but a good shove would open it easily.  We once went on vacation, locking every door tightly, only to arrive home and discover that the pest control guy had been and treated the house,  a friend who needed some casserole dishes had been by and gotten them,  and a neighbor had dropped off some information for Hubby and left it on the kitchen table.   I am convinced that our house shifts position on its foundation every so many years causing doors that swing shut to now swing open, windows that previously were jammed to slide easily and visa versa.


Does it bother me.  Not much.  I think if it latched it would be nice, but it is also nice to be able to slap a hip into the door with my arms full of groceries and get in.  Am I scared to be out on the farm without it locked.  Not much.  We have a farm burglar system--two large, loud dogs, who bark like they are defending against grizzlies whenever a vehicle enters the drive way (or occasionally if one dares use the highway in front of the farm).  I know they are pussycats in disguise, but it takes a lot of convincing for visitors.  When you live on a farm you develop a different attitude.  After all, as I explained to a carpenter trying to convince me to purchase a double locked, full glass exterior door for my sunroom, "It's a sunroom.  A room with glass on three sides.  It's a farm.  There is no one in sight of two of those three sides.  All they would have to do is back a truck up here, throw a brick through any window, and load up the house.  Without anyone being able to see them.  Why do I need a hugely expensive door to keep them out!"  (Also, everyone knows that farmers rarely have lots of high end stuff, except in the barn!) 


So, I am less than enthusiastic that I am about to get a new door (especially if I will have to repaint the utility room, too.)  However, I am resigned to my fate.  After all, this is the same guy who after years of dealing with a bathroom door that didn't latch, (we used a porch screen hook and eye latch to keep it closed.  Effective but not elegant.) decided to remove the offending door and saw it to fit with 60 people due to arrive any minute from an hour away for an Angus meeting and cook-out!


At least on a farm there are bushes, hay bales and barns for emergency facilities!