Spring

Health Status:
Lately I've been working a lot and not sleeping and in general being very stressed out*. Two Fridays ago we attended a wedding, I received a few compliments on my Black Watch Dinner Jacket, but looking at the photos my face looked bad. Like Riff Raff bad, like I need a tan and a vacation.

The jacket looks like this but with a shawl collar.

This week I received my Activity Tracker and started to use it.

It is a Fitbit One model and it tracks steps, flights of stairs traversed, sleep patterns and displays the data on the display. Periodically, the One displays  words of encouragement(think conversation hearts).

 

The data is uploaded to the website where you can easily monitor your activity/inactivity levels. It is 2 inches long, discrete and easy to lose. Setup was a snap, a receiver plugs into the USB on your computer, you enter your height and weight and off you go. The One will sync with your computer when it is close enough. I also realized that somehow it was syncing while I was at work which is equal parts cool:curious:scary.
The One fits to a clip that allows you to wear it on your pants or your bro/manzierre during the day and at night to track sleep it slips into a wrist band seen above.

Garden Status:
 After the heavy snow pack and low temperatures, the gardens seem to have fared well. The snow drops are still up, the witch hazel is blooming and smells nice if you get close enough to it, all the Heaths and Heathers made it through the winter and need to be pruned and all the other spring bulbs are starting to come up. The crocus are already in bloom
 Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis), I'm forever planting these, they never seem to last long.

In the Front Garden

amongst the Cyclamen in the Peony Garden

 Crocus

Beers in the Fridge:

My Oatmeal Cookie Stout, it isn't bad, but not as good as I had hoped it would be. It is a bit thin and doesn't have any flavor from the cinnamon and star anise I added. On the plus side, the carbonation level is just right for me and it's not too hoppy.

The ale on the right from Saranac, my second favorite Brewery, has a nice aroma and citrus taste. The other bottle, from Dogfish Head Brewery is an Imperial Pils. I received it from a coworker as thanks for work above and beyond. Quite unnecessary since I don't just work for the fun of it. Have not yet cracked it open.

*  I am attributing some stress to the lack of communications from our Youngest.