Stephen Bannasch (316 ppm)
LightNews LightNews
banner
stepheneb.ruby.social.ap.brid.gy
Stephen Bannasch (316 ppm)
@stepheneb.ruby.social.ap.brid.gy
49 followers 29 following 420 posts
Learn Make Teach Share: an ethical approach and practice to weave curiosity and kindness into the world. Be curious and kind whenever possible! (he/him).

I’d […]

[bridged from https://ruby.social/@stepheneb on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]
Posts Replies Media Videos
stepheneb.ruby.social.ap.brid.gy
Snow shovel recommendation.

If you have snow to move a Canadian style push and tip shovel is much easier on your back than lift and toss shovels.

I push it along and when it has a plausible load of snow I tip up the handle all the way to dump the snow.

If I […]

[Original post on ruby.social]
Snowy scene showing my yellow Canadian style shovel with a load of snow. Shovel has a long and wide section that snow accumulates on as you push. The short back section angles up about 45 degrees and a long tubular metal handle extends up from both sides about three feet where after the tubular handles are bent upward another maybe 30 degrees they extend for another 18 inches or so and then there is a horizontal section connecting the two upright sections. Snowy scene showing my yellow Canadian style shovel with a load of snow. I’ve used the long handle section to tip up the bottom section so the snow slides off without me having to lift the snow. Shovel has a long and wide section that snow accumulates on as you push. The short back section angles up about 45 degrees and a long tubular metal handle extends up from both sides about three feet where after the tubular handles are bent upward another maybe 30 degrees they extend for another 18 inches or so and then there is a horizontal section connecting the two upright sections.
December 8, 2025 at 5:27 PM
stepheneb.ruby.social.ap.brid.gy
Hmm … here’s one of the little filters removed. Looks like a bunch rust particles. Am not thinking maybe the pressure tank should be replaced.
A very closeup photo of one of the two hot and cold water filters removed from the valve assembly. The wire mesh screen appears to be mostly blocked with a dark reddish brown substance. Possibly small rust particles.
December 6, 2025 at 7:45 PM
stepheneb.ruby.social.ap.brid.gy
These hot and cold water electrical control valves are less than $10. I took this picture so I could remember which solenoid the red and the yellow wiring clips attached to. The water section of the valve in the blue plastic body have little wire mesh filters for […]

[Original post on ruby.social]
Photo of hot and cold water electrically controlled valve taken inside the washing machine.
December 6, 2025 at 7:11 PM
stepheneb.ruby.social.ap.brid.gy
I continue to be amazed at McMaster-Carr’s customer service!

I messed up the threads on a lug stud on my partners 2006 Camry putting on snow tires so I planned to order a 12x1.5 metric thread-repairing die to clean up the threads. At 7F it’s way too cold to […]

[Original post on ruby.social]
Email to me from McMaster-Carr: Hi Stephen, I'm sorry, but we were unable to intercept the package for the M10x1.5 nut (2667A454). You can just keep it when it arrives today by 4:15pm and we'll issue a credit. You don't have to return it. Tawanda
December 5, 2025 at 4:25 PM
stepheneb.ruby.social.ap.brid.gy
Witch Hazel flower with a frozen drop. Their persistence in the cold is inspiring.

#bloomscrolling #witchhazel
Witch Hazel flower with a frozen drop. A skinny brown branch extends personally at the top of the photo with several small clumps of icy snow. The center of the photo shows the flower with a cluster of maybe 8 thick yellow strands spreading out and hanging down. There is a mostly clear frozen drop of water attached to 2-3 of the yellow flower strands.
December 4, 2025 at 3:41 PM
stepheneb.ruby.social.ap.brid.gy
Suki, our old lady concern dog likes to curl up and sleep in my pile of clothes. I asked her to look at me when I took the photo and I think she did a great job!

#dogsofmastodon #suki
Close photo of Suki an older dog with a bunch of white hair on her face. She’s about 30-40 pounds and has short medium brown hair. She has been sleeping curled up in a pile of my clothes and is looking up at me with her gentle face and big brown eyes.
November 23, 2025 at 4:44 PM
stepheneb.ruby.social.ap.brid.gy
@JamesWNeal

An example of many different forms of license plate readers. Some are obviously cameras mounted on a pole. Others are hidden in things like traffic barrels, electrical equipment, solar powered signs, etc.
A screenshot from the beginning of the video in the AP article showing 16 different photos of many different forms that license plate readers can take. Some are obviously cameras mounted on a pole. Others are hidden in things like traffic barrels, electrical equipment, solar powered signs, etc.
November 20, 2025 at 7:08 PM
stepheneb.ruby.social.ap.brid.gy
A month ago I mixed compost into the soil into my 30 fabric growing bags and planted a winter cover crop of winter rye and hairy vetch. I’m always amazed that these seeds can germinate and grow in the cold.

Hairy vetch is a legume and fixes nitrogen in the soil […]

[Original post on ruby.social]
Tiny, just sprouted green leaf/stem wrapped around itself near the soil and with slightly curled edges further up. Light is coming through the leaf which has vertical stripes of darker and lighter green. I think this is the winter rye Tiny, just sprouted green leaf/stem with dull red-brown coloring in regions. The leaf has a closed spiral wrap around itself near the soil and with slightly curled edges further up. Light is coming through the leaf which has vertical stripes of darker and lighter green and red. I think this is the hairy vetch. A month ago: two 30 gallon fabric bags filled with soil for growing plants. They have been weeded and new compost has b added. The soil is a rich black. On the right is a wagon with a heavy black plastic crate now just half filled with compost. A red handled shovel is in the crate. At the top in the background is another growing bag still needs compost
November 15, 2025 at 2:21 PM
stepheneb.ruby.social.ap.brid.gy
Came downstairs and Stella was enjoying the chair I usually sit in and was very happy to see me. It was nice she already had her ball because during a greeting she feels totally underdressed without it. Her fluffy tail is so expressive!

#dogsofmastodon #stella
November 15, 2025 at 2:05 PM
stepheneb.ruby.social.ap.brid.gy
Stella made a big mess in the kitchen investigating the trash, there was a collection of clues on the living room floor. She sat on the corner couch looking nonplussed as I explained to her that was “bad dog” behavior — certainly “unhelpful dog” behavior.

I got […]

[Original post on ruby.social]
November 7, 2025 at 4:31 PM
stepheneb.ruby.social.ap.brid.gy
Your eyes are getting heavy, you’re feeling sleepy, oh so sleepy ;-)

#dogsofmastodon #stella
Stella, our 20 month old retriever-lab mix is curled up on the cushy yellow recliner with her head resting on an arm and her eyes have just about completely closed.
November 6, 2025 at 3:40 PM
stepheneb.ruby.social.ap.brid.gy
This is a bit unusual. Luna, the calico kitty has no boundaries about using her bulk to push right into Suki. Normally Suki, who is a dog of propriety, concern, and delicate feelings will leave — but not this time ;-)

#dogsofmastodon #catsofmastodon #suki #lunah
Close up photo of Luna, a large and wide calico kitty and Suki our golden, short haired, medium sized older sweet concern dog lying together in Suki’s oval shaped comforter bed. They both have their eyes closed z
November 3, 2025 at 10:09 PM
stepheneb.ruby.social.ap.brid.gy
Stella is so happy when I throw sticks for her — and her tail, oh my! Cheers me up a bit right now.

#dogsofmastodon #stella
October 30, 2025 at 12:49 PM
stepheneb.ruby.social.ap.brid.gy
@mcdanlj

A screenshot from the video just before the driver swerved left to avoid the plane — and then immediately swerved right again to avoid the big white truck in the oncoming traffic!
A screenshot from the video just before the driver swerved left to avoid the plane — and then immediately swerved right again to avoid the big white truck in the oncoming traffic!
October 27, 2025 at 1:54 PM
stepheneb.ruby.social.ap.brid.gy
Koji and Suki in 2013 when they were both around one year old. Koji was already a boss kitty and always felt very comfortable around Suki.

#catsofmastodon and #dogsofmastodon #koji and #suki
Koji a supremely confident gray kitty is lying on the couch with his head in the air and his right front leg raised with the paw drooping down in a relaxed manner looking at Suki the concern dog also lying down on couch facing Koji. Suki is about four times bigger than Koji and Suki’s mouth is open very close to Koji’s rear feet. They are both about 1 year old and have always been good friends. Koji a supremely confident gray kitty is lying on the couch curled up around the rear end of Suki the concern dog and her best friend. Koji’s eyes are closed and his right front leg and paw are stretched out over Suki’s rear end. Suki is also lying down on the couch and in the photo only her rear half is visible. They are both about 1 year old and have always been good friends.
October 26, 2025 at 2:06 PM
stepheneb.ruby.social.ap.brid.gy
Almost all the leaves are changing colors and I find it very interesting how the Magnolia’s leaves are still a saturated deep bright green!

In the background are the bright yellow leaves from the Witch Hazel.

#magnolia #witchhazel #fall
Photo taken on October 18th, well into Fall. Brilliant deep and bright green magnolia leaves in the lower foreground with bright yellow witch hazel leaves in the upper background.
October 22, 2025 at 5:05 PM
stepheneb.ruby.social.ap.brid.gy
Big bumblebee taking a break sleeping in the Saffron! The Saffron are practically the only flowers blooming this late in the Fall.

#bloomscrolling #saffron #bumblebee
October 20, 2025 at 12:46 PM
stepheneb.ruby.social.ap.brid.gy
Later in the day at Greenfield MA I think there were 2-3000 folks.

The march to the common took almost 8 minutes to move past me!

#nokings
No Kings rally at the town common in Greenfield MA. Several hundred folks with signs visible in front of me. Probably several thousand folks gathered.
October 18, 2025 at 9:44 PM
stepheneb.ruby.social.ap.brid.gy
We just finished playing a 30m gig at NoKings in Orange MA. Lots more folks than what you see in this picture! Great speakers!

Heading to Greenfield MA next. Meeting daughter and 95 year old mother in law there!

#nokings
Folks gathered listening to an older veteran speaking who has created a local veterans center. About 100 folks visible in photo. Many more there. This spot is where we played 6 songs just before this speaker.
October 18, 2025 at 5:06 PM
stepheneb.ruby.social.ap.brid.gy
And the results from using a very fine tweezers to pluck all threads!

#bloomscrolling #gardening #saffron
Brilliant red (with a touch of orange) saffron threads plucked this morning from about 30 Saffron flowers. Threads are jumbled in a very small glass mason jar and centered in a larger stainless steel bowl filled with bright purple saffron flowers that have had the red threads plucked. The mid-day sun is beautifully illuminating the plucked flowers and the threads. The threads are glowing!
October 17, 2025 at 5:19 PM
stepheneb.ruby.social.ap.brid.gy
This mornings Saffron!

#bloomscrolling #gardening #saffron
Closeup of two bright purple Saffron flowers. The larger and taller flower has its six bright purple flowers open a bit and two of the long red stigmas collected for the Saffron spice are visible and reach almost to the top of the petals. A second smaller flower is below and to the right with its purple petals still wrapped tight around each other. Both flowers are surrounded by a spray of single spiky green shoots that will stay green all winter and go dormant in early June. A stainless steel bowl with about 20 purple Saffron flowers I picked this morning.
October 17, 2025 at 3:13 PM
stepheneb.ruby.social.ap.brid.gy
The Saffron is flowering!!!

They will probably keep flowering into early November. The shoots will stay green all winter and go dormant early next June.

#bloomscrolling #gardening #saffron
About 20-25 bright purple Saffron flowers ready to pick in the raised bed garden I grew basil in this summer. Each opened flower has a couple of long red stamens that are collected as the spice. There are also three short very fragrant yellow pistils on each flower. A closeup of an open Saffron flower. It has six bright purple petals with lighter and darker striations. There are a couple of long red stamens that are collected as the spice. There are also three short very fragrant yellow pistils in the center. A closeup of a closed Saffron flower. It will be CC open and ready to pick tomorrow. My hand is full of about 20 picked Saffron flowers. Each bright purple flower has a couple of long red stamens that are collected as the spice. There are also three short very fragrant yellow pistils in the center.
October 15, 2025 at 9:44 PM
stepheneb.ruby.social.ap.brid.gy
Bumblebee shadows on a Dahlia just a day before the first frost! Photo taken by my partner.

#bloomscrolling #bumblebee #shadows
Closeup photo of two bumblebees in a large dahlia flower. The flower has many layers of petals radiating out from the center. Close to the center they are orange with a slightly yellow shading and tend towards a slightly reddish orange towards the outer edges. One bumblebee is crawling at the center (presumably looking to collect pollen) the second one is crawling on the petals just above the center. Shadows from both bumblebees are visible on the petals just below and to the right.
October 11, 2025 at 1:46 PM
stepheneb.ruby.social.ap.brid.gy
Flowers from my daughter’s garden the morning after the first frost two days ago!

#bloomscrolling #frost
A large orange blossom in a he sun with many petals. Each petal has irregular rough and ruffled edges that are coated with a layer of frosty ice crystals. A large light purple blossom in the sun with two layers of petals spreading mostly horizontally. Each petal has two to three large rounded ridges oriented in the same radial direction as the petals and are coated with a layer of frosty ice crystals. In the center is a large rounded seed head with about ten small buttons bits on the top that have spiky ice crystals.
October 11, 2025 at 12:52 PM
stepheneb.ruby.social.ap.brid.gy
This year I got the figs off the deck and inside before the first frost!

The state of the world is much worse than a year ago so even making something just a bit better is good to appreciate.

Will be playing music with my friends at a NoKings protest in the […]

[Original post on ruby.social]
Photo of two large fig plants just inside of the large glass doors that lead out to the deck where they have lived since late Spring. The larger one the right is almost four feet tall. The one on the left is about three feet tall. There is a little one with little figs about 10 inches tall sitting on the dirt of the largest one.
October 10, 2025 at 12:08 PM