Still very happy with it!

I've asked the installer for leftover wood. If he doesn't cooperate, I'm posting photos on nextdoor.com.

We talked about getting garden lighting for years and finally did it last fall. Best tip: Don't overdo it. The first contractor we called evidently just wanted to sell us a lot of identical lights. We went back to our landscape design firm (Geoscape - Oakton VA) and asked "Do you do lights?" They scaled back the number of lights (by about 1/3) and also put the right kinds of lights in the right places. We're thrilled with results. Don't overdo and DO look for a bit of "art" along with electrical expertise.

They're all fine in and of themselves. The question is -- what do you want your final result to be? Dark or mid-range color? What tone? How do the sample colors relate to teh big picture, the fixed elements. What about the wall color -- staying or going? Is there a color that just strikes you as "the one"?

You did say you like the Early American and Golden Oak. Can you pinpoint what it is you like about them? On my monitor, they both read warm in tone. My personal preference would be the darker color, in MY home that works better with the rest of what's going on -- but that may not be the case in your home. I have red oak floors stained Provencial, and it is mid-tone, it's not too dark. The Golden Oak is a little too yellowy-orange for my taste and my decor -- but again, what do YOU like about it and how does relate to your big picture.

"Light unstained raw matte is popular using Bona sealer and Traffic HD or Ciranova finishes. "

It doesn't matter what's popular, it matters what looks good in OP's home and what OP's preferences are. Personally? I'm not a fan of that uber-light wishy-washy look, always looks unfinished to me, like it's thirsting for a good drink of stain. No thanks.

I accidentally hit delete before post and was left with one L so I guess I should just embrace human foibles?

The egg sacs can appear differently depending on the surface or twig they're on.

A plain white counter is never going to look like real stone, whether it is next to real stone or not.

TV's today are made to allow clear viewing from every angle with distortion.

The most important is placing the TV at eye level, center while seated comfortably.

Although a fireplace is generally the focal point in a room, a TV mounted above the firebox is just too high for comfortable viewing.