From what I've read, most of the changes are of a User Interface nature. The under-the-hood stuff has been stable and efficient back to 7. Of course, we all know that it was just the UI area that caused Microsoft the nightmares that they're trying to put behind them. WIn 8 has been great to work with as far as my experience has gone. The infamous Start button problem became something most people found could be quickly and easily fixed. Smartphones have had useable voice recognition capabilities for many years. My five year old car has it for telephone use, and in my newest car I can control everything in the center part of the dashboard, except climate control. I've found that the novelty quickly wears off. Even with very capable voice comprehension software as is now available, it remains easier to not use it, in most cases.

I like laminate too. Some of the retro patterns that Wilsonart put out are great. And the Jonathan Adler Formica was to die for! There’s a kitchen on here than used the large Jungle pattern as a great graphic design statement, much like wallpaper. But for a kitchen counter, if I want stone, then stone is what I’d get. Or wood. Or Corian. It’s cheaper than laminate, and it’s real. Now, if I wanted a counter that looked like millions of jellybeans, or lollipops, or grass, or a city map, or an aquarium, or even a bright yellow or aqua counter, laminate is the only game in town. Used as laminate, in a deliberate design statement, its great. Used to fake other materials, it’s just fake.

Thanks for all the comments, this is great. It looks like the garage door is still solid and can be scraped and painted, so I will likely look at doing that instead of replacement and try to save it from the landfill, it's just starting to get rough cosmetically. I agree, the next garage door would likely be better with windows. I will post some photos of the porch concrete issue and the well pump head for suggestions. I wonder about tiling the concrete step or doing some sort of stamped concrete. I also wonder how that would stage -- do it before or after the post work?? -- Thanks again!

Be careful about planting any tree too close to the foundation. If that right front window in the darker wall is the bedroom, consider planting a pair of trees farther away -- not too close to the house -- so you still get the shade/look/scent. Would not paint or whitewash the brick. Would leave the brick as is. IF however, you truly dislike the brick and have already decided to change its color, consider staining it instead -- perhaps to match the color of the front exterior wall of the right wing of your home. You have a dark front wall on the right wing and a white wall to the side of that. What color are the other three sides of the building? Seriously consider painting them all the same color that goes well with the brick -- perhaps to match the vertical siding on the front exterior wall of the right wing of the house. The white between the brick and dark front exterior wall looks off -- would definitely paint at least that wall and the forward facing gable end and the awning over the windows all darker. Your driveway is on the left of the house? White garage in the back left? Would adding a 8' deep flat roof front porch (or nearly flat roofed porch) across the front of the house from near the left corner to that white wall on the side of the right front wing of your home be within your budget? If so, you could either have the porch floor go all the way to the left corner of your home or stop the porch floor just before the corner so you can add your steps to the left side of the porch by your driveway -- but do extend the roof of the porch all the way to the corner and cover the steps IF you decide to put steps on that left end of a new front porch. IF you add a porch, you'd not need the awning over the window. If you don't want to add a porch, consider adding a front deck w/o a roof. Us 8' long treated boards with rounded corners and put one end against the house and the other edge/end toward the road and leave the space of a large nail between the boards for water to drain through. You Tube will have how to vids on building a deck. Even if you don't add a porch, you might want to alter your front steps and/or create a more defined walk path to your steps and get a curb appeal boost. You might want a larger front stoop between house and steps and then add steps on both side of the stoop -- forward and left side. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/330662797631786577/ For foundation plants, consider Hosta or Liriope -- IF they will grow well in your planting zone. If you want to plant bushes to create a green privacy hedge/fence, consider Aucuba bushes if they will grow well in your planting zone. If your wife likes scented bushes/trees, consider a pair of Gardenia bushes near a window you open in good weather. If you have a back porch where you sit outside, or if you add a front porch, perhaps you could add them alongside the porch.