Bucket and concrete will work great for now. For next year set a good post into the ground and then hinge the arm your mailbox is attached to. If your diligent and know the plows are coming you just tip the mailbox up and then they can just hit your neighbors mailbox instead of yours. If your feeling cynical then go get a 8 ft chunk of 6" 1/2" wall tubing from your local steel supplier. In the spring sink it down 4 ft and concrete around it and then fill the inside as well. Weld on an arm of 2x4 1/2 wall tubing to for you mailbox and next winter sit back and wait for the carnage because the plow truck will lose. Side note if your mailbox is installed according to post office recommendations then the city is responsible for replacing it. If it is sitting out farther then it should then it falls on you. Usually it isn't worth the hassle but you can go to the city and have them fix it.

What a beautiful kitchen. I think runners would definitely look wonderful in there: https://www.rejuvenation.com/catalog/collections/price-hand-knotted-rug-blue/products/6000ee4df626ad571b021e2e A couple of things I’d change is removing the corbels from the island, and changing the bottom trim of the hood. See how the trim on this one is plain? You could easily do that. I think trying to modernize what you have by mixing in a bunch of MCM or modern whatever would change the look in a bad way and look muddled. I’d research inspiration pictures for updating a traditional kitchen to enhance and coordinate with what you have, rather than try to cover it up with Trends du Jour. ETA: Sorry, meant to add that I’d change your dining fixture with something updated and elegant, but with a somewhat casual feel (not MCM). I’m assuming it’s open to the living area? What kind of lighting is around it?

I would say paint the garage a dark taupe or gray not black. maybe add an eye brow pergola over it . Or get a wood set of doors. As to the landscape the larger shrubs on either side by the walk way are too large, they close in the front of the house a lot.

Stain alone (gel stain or regular) will not protect anything, stain is a colorant essentially. And poly or any type applied over the floor in its current state will be good money after bad. And any of those floor wax type finishes will do nothing but ruin the floor so you may not even be able to refinish it.