No palms in that photo with the Kalanchoe pumila, which would not like any part of the southern USA ; it isn't freeze tolerant and being a drought adapted succulent, would hate summer heat and humidity typical of most of the south. It might just be doable in coastal south Florida. As to all yellow gardens here in california, I don't do them because they don't look good given our hot dry summers and bright light. Better to use chartreuse or variegated white/green foliage sparingly as accents than an entire garden, IMO. I have lots of photos of such plants in such accent situations, but very few appropriate to a much colder zone. Not really worth even telling you which plants I typically use as they won't grow for you, and quite a few of my general landscape garden photos have such examples. Do a search on my Flickr site using Oxalis spiralis aurea or Cotinus coggygria 'Golden Spirit's or Acorus gramineus Ogon or Carex oshimensis Evergold or Phormiums Cream Delight/Yellow Wave or Lysimachia nummularia aurea. As to the reason for California's financial decline; Howard Jarvis and the 1978 passage of Proposition 13. This began the tax revolt that seems to be the national model these days. The results all these years later are a tax model that greatly favors the older and wealthier home and business owners at the expense of everyone else. People in similar or identical properties bought at different times, and receiving identical services, may be paying 400% or more property taxes than a neighbor who hasn't moved since 1978, or hasn't remodeled to get . reassessed. I also benefit since I've been in my house 22 years now; but the current tax system in patently unfair to the younger generation just starting out.

Sorry I can't help you with the Photoshop but I really like your house! Personally,I think the stone would look great on the bump out as well as the lower portion of the whole house.I don't think it would be overkill with your landscaping at all.Stone is so popular now.I'm seeing it everywhere,even used with brick.

I have been using PSP7 for 7 years now and LOVE it. I have PSP9 too but was so used to 7, that I found it hard to change even tho 9 is better! Can't buy them now, Coral took over. Sorry. They both work with Windows 7, 64bit for what I use it for but I do not know how well they work for all that they are equipped for.

A voice of dissension here. How will the curtains hang for the majority of time - open or closed? Personally, I prefer the curtains mounted high when they are open - but when they are closed, I prefer that the transoms remain exposed. An alternative may be to have a divided privacy underpanel on an invisible track traversing the entire length of the wall between the top and bottom windows, which can then be concealed beneath the decorative tall curtains during the day. I would also relocate those two grillwork panels. They are attractive but clutter the wall space in an otherwise clean and simple decor.