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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

Barbara’s Riffs on Life

Can This Garden Be Saved? My California Natives Are Looking Bleak

November 15, 2025 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Monardella-macrantha-Marian-Sampson-Red-Monardella

Could this garden be saved? My California natives were looking bleak. A trip to the local native plant nurseries was in order.  Read more.

Widowed: My Husband Is the Hero of My Next Book

November 8, 2025 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

widowed My husband is the hero of my next book man-with-toddler-on-shoulers

My husband is the hero of my next book. I wanted it all — family and career. And Jon made it possible. Read more.

Widowed: Do I Still Miss Him?

November 1, 2025 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

widowed do i still miss him cloud-gate-millennium-park

Widowed: Do I still miss him? Not really. Missing Jon is not the shape my grief takes. Most days.  Read more.

I’m a Grammar Geek: I Don’t Get Nauseous. I’ve Never Received a Kudo. And I Never, Ever Lay on My Yoga Mat

October 25, 2025 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

stack-of-yoga-mats

I’m a grammar geek and I’m old: I don’t get nauseous. I’ve never received a kudo. And I never, ever lay on my yoga mat.  Read more.

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.

It’s True. My New Bathroom Is . . . Beautiful

October 11, 2025 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

It's True. My New Bathroom Is Beautiful pratt-and-larsen-tile-niche

It’s true. My new bathroom is beautiful. I’ve been taking a lot of showers in there lately, so I should know.  Read more.

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ON THE FUNNY SIDE

My Husband Passed Away and Took the Encyclopedia With Him

my-husband-passed-away

When my husband passed away, he took the family encyclopedia with him. Fun facts, handy info, and beloved family stories went with him.  Read more.

MORE "ON THE FUNNY SIDE"

CATEGORIES

  • 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!

SXSW: Quirky, Lovable Austin, Texas

Artist Judy Seidel in her Berkeley studio, her colorful abstract paintings in the background. Photo by BF Newhall

Judy Seidel: Click Here for an Eyeful of Her Life-Affirming Paintings

joe-biden-mouth

Is Hamas Evil? Is Anybody Evil? Am I? Are You?

ten year old boy in baseball uniform catches the ball. Photo by Barbara Newhall

Kids Who Cheat. And Those Who Don’t

MORE DON'T MISS!

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