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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

toys

Instead of My Toys, They Played With Peanut Shells

October 18, 2025 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

they-played-with-peanut-shells/ people-made-of-peanut-shells

Instead of playing with my toys, the visiting grandchildren played with a bag of peanut shells — and made tiny peanut people.  Read more.

A Woman Can’t Be Too Rich, Too Thin or Have Too Many Toys Stored in Her Basement

August 16, 2025 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

A woman can’t be too rich, too thin or have too many toys in her basement –if the grandkids are coming.a-woman-cant--be-too-rich-too-thin-or-have-too-many-toys-stored-in-her-basement

A woman can’t be too rich, too thin or have too many toys in her basement — if the grandkids are coming.  Read more.

Barbie — Sex Object or Blank Slate?

July 29, 2023 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

barbie-sex-object-or-blank-slate an-8-year-old-girl-living-out-her-fantasies-as-a-swordswoman

Barbie: A sex object? Or a blank slate for girls to project their dreams on? Neither, if your daughter wants a doll who can fight dragons.  Read more.

Our No TV Week — The Kids Survived, but Did I?

October 22, 2015 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

girl on tricyclle with helmet. Photo by Barbara Newhall

What would happen, I wondered, if our family had no TV for a week. Who would complain the most? Read more.

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ON THE FUNNY SIDE

Quarantine Hair: I’ve Got Curls All Over My Head. How Did That Happen? Sheltering at Home Week 22

I've-got-curls Barbara-falconer-newhall-with-fluffy-hair-2

Out of the blue, my hair has begun sprouting Shirley Temple ringlets. I’ve got curls, adorable curls. What the heck? I didn’t know my hair could curl.  Read more.

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  • A Case of the Human Condition
  • My Ever-Changing Family
  • On Writing & Reading
  • 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 on instagram

Where’s Barbara? On Instagram, of Course

A beach at Chimney Rock, Point Reyes, CA, is covered densely with elephant seal females and pups. Photo by BF Newhall

At Point Reyes: Wild Flowers . . . and Animals Wild and Tame

Outdoor portrait of Jennifer Fulwiler, author of "Something Other than God: How I Passionately Sought Happiness and Accidentally Found It"

Atheist to Catholic–Two Brainy Women Get Religion

facade of santuario de atotonilco, mexico. photo by bf newhall

Atotonilco, Mexico — High Art, Folk Art, Hot Springs, Food!

MORE DON'T MISS!

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