Sequel to my Predicament

          A few posts ago I did a piece called "Predicament" where I described how our lock wore out and we were unable to unlock it and get in the house.

        Well that lock had to be replaced very soon and that was another adventure. We went to our favorite building supply center that has some people knowledgeable about locks. Home Farm Girl insists that she has to have exactly the same lock to replace the old one because the same lock is on the front door. She will move heaven and earth to find the exact replacement lock. Our lock was a 1963 model as that is when our house was built.

       The first guy we ran into was about as helpful as a coat of paint. He knew that the lock we had was not produced any more and then he tried to sell us the lock which is most popular today. This disappointed Home Farm Girl and she was ready to start on a marathon search for the exact lock. She was sure it could be found somewhere in some one's supply of locks. About this time a little dumpling of a guy came along and asked coat of paint what the problem was. Dumpling said yes, these locks are no longer produced, but we have some in the back corner. Dumpling went to the corner and came back with the exact lock. Home Farm Girl was absolutely pleased and amazed. Now Dumpling says, " It's a Weiser lock and they have life time guarantees so you get the lock free. I thought Home Farm Girl would really lose it as for her there is nothing better if it's free  especially if she was expecting to pay for it.

       So in less than two minutes Home Farm Girl was on her way with a free lock and a reluctant handyman to install it. After filing the striker plate for  while I got the new lock to fit perfectly. Now the door closes  with a soft "clasp" and so works better than it ever has.

Predicament!!!

          Every once in a while we find ourselves in a challenging predicament. Today was my day to be caught in a bind.

          My back door lock decided that this was the last day it wanted to serve me. My back door is on the side of my house so most of the time if I sit or work in my back yard I lock the door for security. This afternoon when I went to go back into the house the key just turned round and round. There was no way the lock was going to open.

       What to do? My wife was away for the afternoon. I knew that we would have to go through the bedroom window which on this house is a little more than 2 meters off the ground. Luckily the bedroom windows were open since it was hot. I prepared things so that when my wife came home I would go through the window. So I lined up the step ladder and poked a needle through the screen to unlatch the screen. I pulled back the drapes.

      When Home Farm Girl got home I explained our problem and that I would go through the window. She said do you want me to go through the window? "No," I said, " I can do it." Well, after several attempts it was apparent that I was not going through the window. My body was just too long to allow me to fold my legs enough to swivel through the window. Okay Home Farm Girl, it's your turn. She made sure the step stool was lined up under the window inside, up the ladder , twist and through the window. What a relief! Her body was short enough to allow her to swing through the window.

      So two stubborn independent 70 year olds, crawled through the house window to unlock the door from inside. None of this calling the lock smith for us. Tomorrow we have to find a new lock set. But right now we're just happy to be in the house.

     I asked Home Farm Girl if she'd go up the ladder and through the window so I could take pictures. She was not amused.