It does look like a mint... but there are mints and there are mints. Catnip is a mint. Horehound is a mint. Gill-Over-the Ground is a mint. Plants in the mint family have a squared stem and have paired opposite leaves, as do your plants. A word of caution? If you plant different mints within reach of each other (10 to 20 feet), you will end up with common or wild mint, which has a mild, indistinguishable minty flavor. Mint propogates by sending out runners across or just beneath the surface of the ground, and will cross with any other mint within reach. I grow Spearmint and Peppermint plants in pots separated by about 12 feet of deck space. If your mint tastes like chewing gum or toothpaste, it COULD be Spearmint. Peppermint does have a bite to it - at least it does to me - and after chewing it for a minute or two tastes like peppermint stick candy. The flowers of Spearmint grow in a spike at the tips of the branches. Whichever you have, in order to maintain the flavor, try to get more of the same type of mint to plant with it. Why not dig up some of the plants and scatter them around the orchard? Have you tried cooking with it? Add it to salads or to Middle-Eastern dishes like Spanikopita or Moussaka, Greek soups or spinach dishes, spinach quiche, etc. You can also add it to your tea or just to boiling water or to lemonade for a refreshing drink that will also lower your body temperature by a few degrees. And be sure to dry some to use during the off-season. Hope that helps! - JB Hope that helps?

I absolutely love ginger, but I wasn't able to post to this before. I also love ginger flowers and have several types of ginger in my yard now. The blue ginger is blooming right now (see link below), but I also have red and white gingers, none of which are edible, but some of the flowers have very nice fragrances that are quite unique. As for edible ginger, I keep a jar of ginger paste (from an Indian market) that I use in soups, marinades, and stir fries, but not desserts. For desserts, I use ginger that I keep in the freezer. I should probably grow edible ginger. I bought ginger snaps at TJ's last week-end (along with some other more decadent cookies), but I think I should have made them myself. They were good but not quite gingery enough. I don't have any dried ginger. Lars Here is a link that might be useful:

As you have figured out, it is indeed an Arts&Crafts style bungalow. I too am a proud owner of a 1925 wood-siding (not stucco) bungalow. The part of the country you are located also can determine the style of bungalows built. While some refer to all small homes with a porch as a 'bungalow', that is really not the case. The interior details and built-ins are key features that determine a bungalow from just another small house, ie: built in china cabinets, bookcases with colonades, etc. A very definite architectural style defines that look and period and the associate variations of Arts & Crafts style bungalows, ie: Asian style (popular in California), Morrocan style (popular in Florida), etc. As a new homeowner still learning about your homes character, I would take lots and lots of 'before' photos. Also, read and research before you attack any projects. Some things that I did when I first purchased my home, I wish I had waited and done a bit differently. Read everything you can on your type/style of bungalow. There are lots of DIY blogs on homeowners who post their challenges and progress too. It's always helpful to learn from observing someone who has done it. Lucky you on the unpainted trim. I am currently up to my eye-balls in paint stripper! I wish you years of joy and happiness in your new home!

Oh, what a face! Great-looking little doggie. I agree: Beagle coloring, body and tail, as others have stated. Also shepherd. I don't see aussie cattle in there. Remember that mixed-breed dogs are often a mix of many breeds, not the spawn of two purebreds. So you could pick as many as seem appropriate. For instance, my dog is border-collie, chow, black lab and something small. Plus whatever else she might be...