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Barbara Falconer Newhall

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

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My Porta-Potty Has Finally Arrived! And Coming Soon — A Bath Remodel

March 15, 2025 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

My porta-potty has arrived. Coming soon, my bath remodel.
My porta-potty has arrived. Coming soon, a bath remodel. Photo by Barbara Newhall

Yay! My new porta-potty has arrived, and I’m doing a happy dance.

Just as camellia blossoms have been the first sign of spring in my front yard lately, the arrival of a porta-potty in front of my house is the first sign of a remodel project about to get underway.

Porta-potty. Honey bucket. Outhouse. Call it what you will. For the people on my street, it will be a blight on the neighborhood for a while.

But for me, the arrival of my very own porta-potty (a Honey Bucket, in this case) is a sign of a long-awaited project finally getting underway.

Jon and I did quite a few home renovations — indoors and out — over the years. This time, it’s the upstairs bathroom that’s due for a re-do.

It’s the only bathroom on a floor with three bedrooms — and it has no shower, just a tub-shower.

Stepping into a wet and slippery tub-shower, I’ve decided, is a bad idea for the likes of creaky-kneed me. A nice, big stall shower with a bench and a wand for washing my feet is in order.

Everything is ready. A contractor has agreed to do the job. The finishes — tile, flooring, vanity, countertop, hardware, mirrors — are on hand. And there’s a porta-potty out front, ready to go.

My Porta-Potty Has Finally Arrived! And Coming Soon -- A Bath Remodel
This tub shower served our family well for decades. But now, my creaky knees are crying out for a stall shower with a comfy bench. And a couple of grab bars. Photo by Barbara Newhall

During the pandemic, our porta-potty went away — then came back: “Hallelujah! Our Porta-Potty Is Back. Construction Work Resumes.” That major remodel was finally completed a few months before Jon died: “Take a Look at Our Remodel — It’s Finally Done.”

Filed Under: A Case of the Human Condition, House and Garden

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Elaine says

    March 16, 2025 at 12:43 pm

    Congratulations 🎊 👏

    • Barbara Falconer Newhall says

      April 19, 2025 at 8:03 pm

      😉

  2. Blake Gilmore says

    March 16, 2025 at 8:18 am

    Go team!

  3. Jeanie says

    March 16, 2025 at 7:03 am

    You will be happy you made this choice!

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