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Barbara Falconer Newhall

Veteran journalist Barbara Falconer Newhall riffs on life as she knows it.

  • A CASE OF THE HUMAN CONDITION
  • MY EVER-CHANGING FAMILY
  • WRITING & READING
  • MY ROCKY SPIRITUAL JOURNEY
  • WIDOWED
  • FUNNY BUTTON

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At the Hallmark Store — Teary-Eyed in the Sympathy Card Section

August 14, 2014 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

condolence cards in a Hallmark Store rack. Photo by Barbara Newhall

I keep a stash of greeting cards in my desk — birthday and anniversary cards to send to sisters-in-law, brothers, nephews and nieces as the dates come up. But that’s not what I needed on a recent afternoon. I needed sympathy cards. Two of them. Read more.

We’re Having a — Merry — Christmas Without the Kids This Year

December 25, 2013 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

A young woman carves the Thanksgiving turkey in the kitchen. Photo by BF Newhall

Christmas has gotten to be a scheduling nightmare in our family. Peter lives in Minnesota. Christina lives in Southern California. Jon and I live in Northern California. That puts 400 miles between us and our daughter and 1600 miles between us and our son and daughter-in-law. Not exactly over the river and through the woods. Read more.

It’s August, But It’s Not Too Soon to Wonder — Can Christmas Be Christmas Without the Kids?

August 1, 2013 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

a happy woman finds a gift for herself in the christmas tree. photo by jon newhall

Christmas has gotten to be a scheduling nightmare. Peter lives in Minnesota. Christina lives in Southern California. Jon and I live in Northern California. That puts 400 miles between us and our daughter and 2,000 miles between us and our son. Not exactly over the river and through the woods. Read more.

I’m Thankful For a Clean Oven, Fresh Ice Cubes . . . and a Daughter-in-Law-to-Be

November 21, 2012 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Lava rocks laid in ground for steppingstone garden path. Photo by BF Newhall

 

What I’m grateful for, what I’m jazzed and excited about today, are the small things that have gone right for me lately: A clean oven, freshly washed windows, and a new steppingstone path for the garden — all in time for Thanksgiving. See more.


Take a Second — To Celebrate the Fabled Leap Second

July 13, 2012 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Five digital clocks show leap second, 2012. Photo by Skip Newhall

My brother-in-law Skip loves to throw a party. This time it was a party in honor of — the Leap Second. Join in, kick back and enjoy the extra second in your life, compliments of Skip. Read more.

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ON THE FUNNY SIDE

Book Openers: A Heather Donahue Lexicon — Flopsweat and Larfy Defined

Heather Donahue's book jacket Grow Girl: How My LIfe After "The Blair Witch Project Went to Pot"

Here’s some help with the pot-growing argot in Heather Donahue’s book, "Grow Girl."

 

MORE "ON THE FUNNY SIDE"

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  • A Case of the Human Condition
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  • My Rocky Spiritual Journey

 
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TO MY READERS

Please feel free to share links to my posts with one and all and to quote briefly from them in your own writing, remembering, of course, to attribute the quote to me and to provide a link back to this site.

My Oakland Tribune columns, btw, are reprinted by permission of the Trib. With the exception of review copies of books, I do not accept ads or freebies of any kind. Click on the "Contact" button if you have questions. Enjoy!

 

DON’T MISS!

Barbara Falconer Newhall at work on a manuscript for "Wrestling with God." Photo by Barbara Newhall

Writers Need Editors – And Mine Wants My Manuscript Turned In, Now

david-and-ruth-falconer

Living to 100 — And Then Some

secret-garden-space

Widowed: I’m Planting a Secret Garden Outside My Office

The view from the bow of a ferry boat making its way through the San Juan Islands in summer. Photo by Barbara Newhall

San Juan Islands Flora: Or, I Cling, Therefore I Am

MORE DON'T MISS!

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