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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

A Case of the Human Condition

I’m Barbara Falconer Newhall and I’ve got an incurable Case of the Human Condition. And since you do too, I’m counting on you to laugh and cry along with me as I riff on life as we know it . . . Below you'll read about my creaky, old fifties house, my forays into home gardening, my shopping stories, my spectacularly low-fashion wardrobe -- and more.

How to Grieve — A Message From My Mother-in-Law

September 11, 2021 By Barbara Falconer Newhall 15 Comments

how to grieve 1940s-children

How to grieve? I don’t know. I’m not ready to give up being broken-hearted, outraged, horrified at the sudden death of my husband.  Read more.

I’m Turning 80 Any Minute. Would You Like to Give Me a Birthday Present?

August 21, 2021 By Barbara Falconer Newhall 9 Comments

I'm turn 80 and hoping for manzanita-arctostaphylos-Point-Reyes

I’m turning 80 and I’m hoping for gifts: grandkids art for the fridge, plants for the new backyard. And a gift only my readers can give. Read more.

Yay! Our Garden Remodel Is Done. Come Take a Walk

August 7, 2021 By Barbara Falconer Newhall 16 Comments

garden remodel with atlas-brick-stairs

Our garden remodel is done at last. Three plus flights of stairs take you from the canyon below our house to the street above. Come climb the stairs with me. Read more.

Fixing Up That Homely Old Side Yard — At Last

July 31, 2021 By Barbara Falconer Newhall 10 Comments

dilapidated-side-yard

It’s happening. Our funky side yard with its treacherous stairs and shabby retaining walls is getting a new look. Read more.

How to Photograph a Redwood Tree — From Duff to Overstory

July 10, 2021 By Barbara Falconer Newhall Leave a Comment

photograph a redwood-tree-trunk

At Muir Woods — how do you photograph a 200-foot redwood tree and get the whole thing into the picture, from roots to treetop?  Read more.

There’s a Dandelion Growing on My Grave

July 3, 2021 By Barbara Falconer Newhall 6 Comments

my grave cypress-lawn-cemetery-colma

We picked out a gravesite for Jon last month. And one for me. Jon’s grave was next to his sister’s. My grave had a dandelion growing on it.  Read more.

Drumroll! I’ve Just Written My 600th Blog Post.

June 12, 2021 By Barbara Falconer Newhall 10 Comments

my 600th blog poast

Here’s my 600th post on a blog that’s seen me through births, deaths, a major house remodel, a pandemic, and some dark nights of the soul.  Read more.

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LET’S CONNECT

ON THE FUNNY SIDE

Gray Hairs. Wrinkles. And Kids Who Won’t Stop Growing Up

Christina, Jon and Peter. Their mother had gray hairs, bu the kids were still small enough to cuddle. Photo by Barbara Newhall

Peter’s in fourth grade now. My third grade boy is gone. Christina has grown an inch since Easter. My size 6 girl is gone.  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!

retablo-chimayo-joseph

Hanging Pictures: Too Much Art. Not Enough Wall Space. Sheltering at Home Week 24

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I’m Bored. No, It’s Worse Than That. I’m Boring. Sheltering at Home Week 10

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Photo Ops: China’s One-Child Families — They’re for Real (For Now)

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A Brutal Forced March Across Germany — A ‘Wrestling with God’ Story

MORE DON'T MISS!

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