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Barbara Falconer Newhall

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

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When the Rough-In Plumbing and Electrical Are Things of Beauty

March 22, 2025 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

When the Rough-In Plumbing and Electrical Are Things of Beauty copper-pipes-new-bath
When the rough-in plumbing and electrical are things of beauty. These gorgeous new copper pipes will bring hot water to the stall shower that’s replacing our awkward old tub-shower. Photo by Barbara Newhall

The upstairs bath redo is underway. At last. The rough-in plumbing went in this week, followed by the rough-in electrical.

They call this work rough — maybe that’s because it’s destined to be hidden away out of sight behind slabs of sheet rock.

In time, the plumber and the electrician will come back to install the shiny stuff — the chrome faucets, the lighted make-up mirror — and the rough stuff will be forgotten.

And that’s too bad — because, if you look closely, all those roughed-in pipes and wires are a sight to see.

You can see the plumber’s mind at work in the copper pipe, in its turns and runs and soldered joints. You can see the electrician’s intent in his swaths of wire and tidy splices nestled in their junction boxes.

I’m putting together photos of all this action. And when I get ready to leave the house, I’ll hand them over to the new owner so they’ll know they’ve bought a thing of beauty.

More home improvement projects at “Yay. Our Garden Remodel Is Done. Come Take a Walk.”  Also “Five Things I Like Best About My Kitchen.”

When the Rough-In Plumbing and Electrical Are Things of Beauty plumbing-and-electrical-roughed-in
Progress! The plumbing is roughed in and so is the electrical with its swaths of wire. The house was built around 1952, and the studs and subfloor have aged. Photo by Barbara Newhall

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

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LET’S CONNECT

ON THE FUNNY SIDE

Travel Adventures: The Poop on China – And the Pee

In Suchow, this little boy was set out on the doorstep of his house to pee, To expedite things, his pants were open at the crotch. I have preserved his dignity by retouching the photo to close up his fly. Photo by BF Newhall

I’ve been contemplating writing this little photo essay on the toilets of China ever since I traveled there last September. It’s taken me all this time to overcome my mid-century Midwestern upbringing, where nice people didn’t talk about poop and pee in public. My nose for news finally prevailed, however when a Mainland Chinese couple allowed their toddler to urinate publicly on the streets of Hong Kong.

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TO MY READERS

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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!

 

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