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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
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House and Garden

Where to Throw a Throw Pillow? On the Bedroom Floor, of Course

December 6, 2025 By Barbara Falconer Newhall 2 Comments

bed-styled-with-pillows

Where to throw those fancy decorator throw pillows? At my house, if you’re getting into bed, you throw them on the floor.  Read more.

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.

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.

A Bathroom and a Book — I Finished Both This Week

October 10, 2025 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

A Bathroom and a Book -- I Finished Both This Week

Big news. Two huge projects finished the same week. A bathroom remodel and a book manuscript. Whew!  Read more.

The Great Big Medicine Cabinet of My Dreams

June 21, 2025 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

36-x36-medicine-cabinet

The great big medicine cabinet of my dreams has arrived — with its fifteen linear feet of shelving.  Read more.

I’m Opting for a No-Bathtub House. Here’s Why

June 14, 2025 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

no-bathtub-house tubz-tub-showroom

It was time to get real. I was 83 years old. Could my creaky knees get me into a bathtub? Could they get me out? I’m going to like my new, no-bathtub house.  Read more.

My Days Are Numbered — And So Are My Minutes

May 24, 2025 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

clock-12:01

My days are numbered, so I’ve decided to be miserly about how I spend what’s left of them.  Read more.

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ON THE FUNNY SIDE

The Dracena Is Dead. Long Live the Dracena

Homeowner succeeds in removing eight-foot stalk from an overgrown dracena marginata plant. Photo by Barbara Newhall

I did it. I cut the dracena marginata growing wild in our living room down to size. Read more.

MORE "ON THE FUNNY SIDE"

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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!

A five year old boy lines up against a wall to be measured. Photo by Barbara Newhall

Kindergarten Looms for a 5-Year-Old and His Mom

Barbara Falconer Newhall at age 75, one year after publication of Wrestling with God. the Big Seven-Five. Photo by Barbara Newhall

The Shame of Aging: The Big Seven-Five Has Finally Arrived

elusive-man-blurred-by-movement

How to Describe My Late Husband? I Can’t Find the Words

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

MORE DON'T MISS!

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