Finally

After living here for almost six years, we finally replaced the back door. 

I really wanted to save the original door.  On the outside it had this really pretty.....I'm not sure what you call it, but a raised design.  It had so much character and it was unique. 

Our first winter here, the wind blew so hard that the Plexiglas that someone had put in this door, actually popped out.  Maybe it was loose to begin with, who knows.  So we replaced that with real glass.  We probably could have saved the door if we had immediately primed and painted it, inside and out.  Quite honestly, there was (is) so much to do that we were just sort of paralyzed for a while.  You know, so much to do, don't know where to start, so we'll do nothing! 

This past winter, while Cameron was out of town for four weeks, the combination of a torrential down pour and then freezing temps, resulted in my not being able to shut our door.  I kicked and pushed and banged, but it was so wet and frozen it just would not shut....or lock.  We just happen to know our own "Mr. Incredible" and he came over and shut that door so that no one would ever get it open again!  Or at least not until summer.  The paint started to come off on the inside too.

Mr. Incredible is also a very knowledgeable carpenter and he convinced me that although the door could be saved, it probably was not the best idea. 

No wonder these floors are ice cold in the winter!  Look at that huge gap.

So fast forward a few months and here we are.  At the time of this writing, 11:12 PM, Cameron and a friend (who should be nominated for sainthood) are outside, cutting into these 100 year old walls to make the door fit.  You can see the original wood siding and the lath.  Notice the lack of insulation to be seen anywhere.  They are adding some of that too!  I can't wait to see what a difference this will make this winter.  We have a  new screen door that will be going on too.

We are very blessed to have a few friends who are willing and able to help with our questions and projects.  Besides Mr. Incredible and Mr. Saint, there is Mr. Inspector who answers our endless questions and gives good advice.  I think he was even under our crawlspace one time.  He should be nominated for sainthood too!

Thank you friends!