NEWS & VIEWS FROM THE NOODLIN' INN

Goldfinch Numbers Down This Year. But at Least They're Here!

2012-01-29T16:07:00.000-08:00

Uncle Bill Goes Catching!

2011-09-04T11:36:00.000-07:00

Uncle Bill went out in the high winds and landed a nice catfish. This time it didn't take him all day. He landed it within an hour.

Hot and Dry in Summer 2011 But Birding is Awesome!

2011-08-11T19:24:00.000-07:00

Holy drought. The lake is down at least nine feet. I have been down here for a week but the temperatures have been over 102 the whole time. Needless to say, not many pictures have been taken. Amy, James, Katie, Mia, and Granny Nick came down for a long weekend. We all enjoyed nightly shows at 7:30PM when the sprinkler kicked on and birds showed up for a bath. We have two male cardinals that put on quite an act every night. Their mottled neon orange chests catch the flashes of the late afternoon sun. Red headed woodpeckers are breeding next door and B&H have a brood in the same spot. Wednesday we were visited by a painted bunting--first ever I've spotted here- and, later in the day, an indigo bunting. Makes me wonder if they are moving east looking for food. what a dreadful hot summer. Bring on the rain!

July 4, 2011 Celebration

2011-07-17T12:34:00.000-07:00

Well, it has taken me a couple of weeks to go through all of the photos I took during the July 4th weekend, but here they are. We had lots of fun swimming, boating, catching, eating fried chicken, and making ice cream. This year we went big time with vanilla beans from Madagascar. James had a blast in the pool. Sarah taught James about playing cards while Uncle Bill held evening classes on "towel casting" and "shoe catching." Mike and Bill went fishing. Bill spent 103 hours in the boat and caught one little fish.

Fun Weekend at Noodlin Inn

2011-06-12T11:42:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a weekend. It was hot but we got a new float for the lake. Everybody got to get out in the cool water. James got a fishing pole and decided to change "fishing" to "catching." So we did lots of catching, swimming, and riding in the golf cart. Uncle Bill and Hannah came down with Hannah's friend Madison. Katie lost her glasses in the lake. The four baby bluebirds from our second brood are growing fast. Check out the pictures from our weekend.Come on down. Bring your bathing suit.

Uncle Bill Goes "Catching"

2011-06-12T10:20:00.001-07:00

James has decided to change the activity of fishing to "catching." Makes perfect sense to us! So this morning Uncle Bill went catching and catch he did. He caught a bass about 18 inches long.

Bill Teaches Babies How to Use Worm Feeder

2011-05-14T13:33:00.001-07:00

I'm happy to report that last night Bill and Hillary FINALLY showed up with four fledglings. This was their first appearance! This morning I filmed Bill teaching the babies how to use the feeder. He spent most of the morning shuttling from the feeder to the babies on the wire. Eventually two of them got brave enough to try it for themselves.

James Hits Noodlin Inn BigTime

2011-04-16T14:31:00.000-07:00

Our favorite nephew, James Drago, is now master of the Noodlin Inn. Since turning 2, James has explored and discovered the wonderful world of nature, sandboxes, bluebirds, golf carts, and boats. His vocabulary now includes “yake house,” “mon mommy go yake-house,” and “feed werms to blue birds, Naaaance.” The following pictures say it all. Make your summer reservations now!

Easter 2011 at Lake Frankston

2011-04-13T17:45:00.000-07:00

The Dragos joined Uncle Nancy and Granny Nick for two days of fun. We saw lots of birds, played in the new pool, and had a massive water fight.

First Baby Blue Birds of 2011

2011-04-03T17:48:00.000-07:00

First brood of five hatched April 1-3, 2011.

Super Moon Over Frankston

2011-03-19T17:29:00.000-07:00

I did a cruddy job of photographing the amazing Super Moon. It was a cloudless and magical night. At midnight, it looked like the sun was out!

Katie & Sam Hit The Lake

2011-02-07T17:21:00.000-08:00

Katie, Sam, Mommy, James, Granny Nick and Uncle Nancy brave the cold February weather.

The Sounds of October at Lake Frankston

2010-10-10T16:56:00.000-07:00

James on July 4, 2010

2010-07-04T17:03:00.000-07:00

James on July 4, 2010

2010-07-04T17:00:00.000-07:00

Nigel, Our Carolina Wren, Feeds the Brood

2010-05-07T17:05:00.000-07:00

Snake Kills Purple Martins. I Kill Snake

2010-04-25T17:08:00.000-07:00

This was not the smartest thing I've ever done, but I was heartbroken to find that a water moccasin had slithered up the pole and into the Purple Martin Palace. The snake destroyed all ten eggs and the martins have left our house.

Rare Bird Sighting at Lake Frankston

2010-04-18T16:51:00.000-07:00

What a glorious weekend at the lake. Bird watching has been a full-time job. A noisy pair of scissor-tailed flycatchers are hanging around in the late evenings and sleeping in the sweetgums. Three of the five bluebird eggs hatched this week. Bill and Hillary are busy flying in and out with food. Friday, a rose-breasted grosbeak showed up. He's alone and probably migrating north, but he has been here for three days hanging out with the female red-winged blackbirds. Here's a quick video I managed to capture by taping my iPhone to the raccoon baffle!
Come on down!!

Bluebirds: First Brood of 2010!

2010-04-10T14:17:00.000-07:00

Greetings from the lake. The weather is gorgeous and the yard is filled with chickadees, titmice, cardinals, white-crowned sparrows, first ruby-throat hummers, phoebes, spiders, and, of course, our resident bluebirds, Bill and Hillary.

Purple martins did not roost on the dock Sad.

Our first eggs of the year appeared some time in the last 9 days. Follow their progress here! Better yet, come on down and see them for yourself!

My Perfect Nephew: James Drago Hits Peggy Sue BBQ

2009-09-27T10:31:00.000-07:00

Okay, so this video wasn't shot at Lake Frankston but I want to keep it with all of the others. So enjoy and leave a comment about Sweet Baby James.

Baby James Hits Noodlin' Inn for First Time

2009-07-04T13:53:00.000-07:00

All the Nichols and Drago are at the Noodlin' Inn for July 4th. Well, Taylor is slumming at Camp Sweeney. Check out the video--James already has the hang of it!

New Couple Moves In: Purple Martin Palace is Busy!

2009-05-10T12:03:00.000-07:00

This isn't a great picture of the new couple who has moved into the main house--a two room compartment on the top floor with great views and a spacious verandah! These two birds need names. WHO IS GOING TO COME UP WITH NAMES? They have been here about two weeks. I thought they were two females, but yesterday I discovered there were three eggs in the nest.

Windy Martin Makes An Announcement: "We Have Four Eggs AND New Neighbors!"

2009-05-10T11:54:00.000-07:00

Sweet Windy, our first female Purple Martin, has added two more eggs to her brood.

First Purple Martin Eggs

2009-04-25T17:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I checked Steve and Windy's nest and found one egg. This morning I checked again to find another. See how the Martins make their nest first out of twigs, then line the twigs with leaves. Each day they bring a fresh leaf in--some say it is to keep the air fresh in the nest.

Baby Bluebird 2009 Update: Readying To Fly

2009-04-25T11:47:00.000-07:00

These three photos were taken today, April 25th. From studying the monitoring book, it looks like the chicks are 13-14 days old. They will fledge sometime this week. There are five chicks and it looks like at least three of them are males.

Baby Bluebird 2009 Update: Just Born

2009-04-25T11:14:00.000-07:00

These first two photos were taken on April 14th when the brood was about two days old.

More Oriole Pictures

2009-04-25T09:44:00.000-07:00

Baltimore Oriole Stops In For An Hour

2009-04-25T09:43:00.000-07:00

As Uncle Grumpy headed to Baltimore to cover the Rangers, a female Baltimore Oriole decided it would be a good idea to challenge Hillary at the mealworm feeder. With five young chicks in the nesting box a few feet away, I don't have to tell you who won this battle. Hillary managed to squish all of the worms in her beak and fly off. Luckily Mrs. B, the oriole, stuck around long enough for me to snap more pictures.

Indigo Bunting Makes Rare Appearance

2009-04-25T09:37:00.000-07:00

What a treat. On April 13th we were visited by one Indigo Bunting Girl. I checked the bird diary and found that last year we had Indigo Buntings (4) on April 19th. Guess we know when to expect their migration next year.

Egrets? We've Seen A Few

2009-04-12T15:40:00.000-07:00

We've had quite a weekend of birds: Egrets, cormorants, coots, Hank and Helen Heron, kingfishers, phoebes, goldfinches, indigo buntings, siskins, ruby-throated hummingbirds, yellow-rumped warblers, and a special appearance by two fabulous gray-blue gnatcatchers.

Windy And Steve Build Nest, Welcome Visitors

2009-04-12T15:31:00.000-07:00

Windy has been hard at work building a nest in one of the gourds. Steve sits on top of the house while she totes muddy twigs to and fro. They seem to build in the morning and then take off with another group of Martins for afternoon feeding. They come back promptly at 8:00PM and settle in for the night.

Goldfinches Return

2009-04-12T15:28:00.001-07:00

Several bright yellow American Goldfinches flew back in after a cold front. They spent the day on the thistle feeders with a flock of 30 Pine Siskins. One neon blue Indigo Bunting showed up at one point, but we haven't seen him twice.

Easter Weekend: Celebrity Guests

2009-04-12T15:25:00.001-07:00

Lulu welcomes Granny Nick and Uncle Eddie to the dock at the Noodlin' Inn. Eddie flew in from Los Angeles for the Easter weekend.

Butterflies Are Coming

2009-04-05T11:32:00.000-07:00

I found this female Black Swallowtail dead on the road. Several other butterfly species are making their way into the lake.

Hot Chicks Hit Noodlin' Inn

2009-04-05T11:18:00.000-07:00

Taylor and her friends Brenna and Megan were down for the weekend. They cooked, ate, slept, watched movies, and did a little sun bathing.

What A Weekend For Birds!

2009-04-05T11:04:00.000-07:00

As you can see, Steve (left) is busy building a nest in the gourd on the dock. Last night he was joined by not only Windy, but another female. Scandalous behavior for East Texas. The Starlings were around on Friday night but yesterday morning I plugged the openings AGAIN and only one showed up last night. I lowered the house and found green leaves inside the gourd—a sure sign they are building a nest and getting ready to lay eggs. Martins only hatch one brood a year and they take their time building the nest.

In other news, the Bluebirds are still sitting on all five eggs. Hillary spends most of her time in the nesting box. First hummer showed up yesterday. Not one of our usual residents, I think it was a single migrating through. She stayed on the trumpet vine for about five minutes before taking off. Needless to say, the feeders are out.
Yesterday Lulu and I were lucky enough to watch a White-Tailed Kite hunting in the grasses on Buxom Island. At first I thought it was an Osprey but after checking the books, I believe, from its hovering behavior, it was a WTK.

First Bluebird Eggs

2009-03-29T12:56:00.000-07:00

Sometime between Monday, March 23 and yesterday, Saturday March 28th, Bill and Hillary produced five perfect blue eggs. So, given that Bluebird eggs hatch 12-14 days after the last egg is laid, we can expect to hear little peeps anytime between April 4-12th. Once they’re alive and kicking around in the nesting box, we can expect them to fledge 15-20 days after that (April 27 to May 5th). I hope I got all of that math right.

Last year, Bill & Hillary hatched their first brood over at our neighbors, The Richardson’s, so I don’t have first brood info, but two years ago, they laid their first egg at our place on March 18, 2007. Perhaps they are a bit late this year because it has been cold and rainy (3 inches of rain in the last 6 days!)

We’re off to a great start for baby Bluebird watching. Make plans to come down soon.

Purple Martins Move In!

2009-03-29T12:39:00.001-07:00

What a day--March 21st! A pair of mating Purple Martins spent the day flying around the Purple Martin Palace and landing on the gourds. It was wonderful to hear their songs and watch the sun shine off their purple backs. Then around 6PM, they went inside and built a nest. This morning, Sunday March 22, 2009, they were dive bombing crows and a Red-Shoulder Hawk—anything—that flew into their territory. The female is very active and cheerful, and like our dearly departed sweet baby dog Windy, the female Purple Martin flies like the wind. We have named her Windy! Her husband is Steve. What a fun addition to our bird family. (Photo: Steve (left) sings to Windy (right) on top of the Purple Martin Palace.)

Sweet Windy Drago, R.I.P.

2009-03-22T09:54:00.000-07:00

Sweet Windy Drago, R.I.P.

Our sweet puppy Windy was hit by a car yesterday. She was doing what she loves most—chasing a squirrel. Windy was a loving, free-spirited pooch. She was named Windy not only because it was windy on the day she came into our lives, she ran faster than the wind! She spent hours running around the lake. Watching Windy run in front of the golf cart while it was going full speed was like like watching a gazelle sprint across the plains of Africa. She was a thing of beauty and a cuddly friend. Sweet Windy, your spirit is alive and well here at the Noodlin’ Inn. You are forever in our hearts and will never be forgotten.

Mid-March 2009 Bird Report

2009-03-15T15:28:00.000-07:00

The Goldfinches are gone, but Pine Siskins (30) remain on the thistle. (Picture: five siskins and one finch on bottom left.) The front yard is full of Red-Wing Black Birds (72), Juncos, White-throated sparrows (beautiful song), a couple Pine Warblers, couple of Eastern Phoebes, our Cardinals (Sid and Nancy), Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, White-Breasted Nuthatches, and Red-Bellied Woodpeckers (pictured below). We've seen lots of cormorants and coots on the lake this winter. There is a family of snapping turtles living by the boathouse and five Mallard ducks come down for happy hour every couple of days.

Bill and Hillary: Season Three

2009-03-15T15:14:00.000-07:00

Back at the mealworm feeder on a regular basis, Bill and Hillary are here for the summer.

Bluebirds Pick New White House at Noodlin' Inn

2009-03-15T15:02:00.000-07:00

The new Bluebird nesting box, the White House, has been up for about six weeks. While it might be a little unsightly, the white panels are heat shields that will keep the temperature down in the hot summer months. The box was built by a troop of Boy Scouts in Kaufman. I went with them to put new nesting boxes up at Lake Tawakoni and they gave me one.

After I put it up, Bill and Hillary didn't know what to think about it, but low and behold, last Monday, Bill (left) started moving in! So look forward to a busy summer of Bluebird watching. On that same Monday, two male Purple Martins checked out the Purple Martin Hotel on the dock, but so far, nobody has checked in.

LuLu Ends the Winter

2009-03-15T14:56:00.000-07:00

Lulu, Princess, Uncle Sticky, and I came down for a long, cold and rainy weekend. While the trees are budding--the dogwoods and redbuds bloomed overnight--the drop in temperature has kept us all inside by the fire. While we were snuggled up, our neighbors down the road watched as a Bald Eagle landed just off their dock and picked a fish out of the lake. Snooze you loose.

The Purple Martin Palace is Open for Business

2009-01-18T13:29:00.000-08:00

Today, I hoisted the new Purple Martin Palace up over the boathouse on the dock. This is my first attempt to become a Purple Martin “parent.” The luxurious digs include six, two compartment condos and two hanging gourds which will be added next weekend. (I forgot to buy the hooks for the gourds.) Now, all we have to do is wait for the Martins to find the house. They are just making their way north into Texas. Cross something. We’d love to add Purple Martins to our menagerie.

First Time Bird: Orange-Crowned Warbler

2009-01-18T13:26:00.000-08:00

Granny Nick and I spotted this bird a month or so ago and couldn’t decide if it was a Tennessee or an Orange-Crowned Warbler. I took this photo and sent it in to Birder’s World magazine and they confirmed it is a juvenile Orange-Crowned male. He’s still around and eats all the suet.

January 2009 Bird Report

2009-01-18T13:20:00.000-08:00

The front yard is bustling with American Goldfinches (70ish), Pine Siskins (20-ish), chickadees, Pine Warblers, one Orange-Crowned Warbler (really cool), Tufted Titmice, Juncos, White-Throated Sparrows, Carolina Wrens (singing like crazy), one lonely female Red-Winged Blackbird, and lots of other visitors. Three bluebirds stop by from time to time and an Eastern Phoebe is around the mealworm feeder each day. Mr. Mallard (left), and his family of five, are now daily visitors. Could it be because Uncle Nancy has put a feeder on the dock?

The Leaning Tower of Peanuts Video Debuts on Youtube

2009-01-18T12:57:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was a big day here at the Noodlin' Inn. Buzzy, our resident Pine Warbler, made his video debut on Youtube. Uncle Nancy filmed the ubiquitous peanut-eatin' bird and uploaded her first nature movie to the world. Enjoy and remember to watch to the very end.

LuLu Gets a Boyfriend

2009-01-18T12:39:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, we were visited by Jack. He's a long tall stud who lives over the hills to the south. I know this because I called his parents to tell them Jack was at our house. They are out of town and said Jack is used to "wandering around on his own." Of course, that adventurous spirit is just what Lulu loves in a male dog. The picture shows how Lulu really knows how to reel in a man. Jack spent the day with us and then disappeared. But he’s back again today so congratulate Lulu on her new beau.

Lulu The Lazy Bird Watcher

2008-12-31T16:41:00.000-08:00

Lulu sits on the couch and waits for the Ivory-billed woodpecker.

Katie and Mia Record Video at Noodlin' Inn Studios

2008-12-31T15:33:00.000-08:00

Sorta live from the Noodlin' Inn: Mia and Katie Drago singing their favorite Flight of the Conchords song, "Tape of Love (Sticky Stuff)."

Merry Christmas From Frankston

2008-12-31T15:16:00.000-08:00

Happy days ahead. This picture was taken on December 12, the night the moon was the closest to the earth it has been in 20 years.

Noodlin' Inn Blog Returns

2008-12-31T14:48:00.001-08:00

There is no time like New Year's Eve to get the family lake house blog back in business. Hopefully this year I can do a better job of chronicling the news and adventures of the permanent, semi-permanent, and occasional visitor to Lake Frankston. Katie, Mia, Amy (and carrying baby), and Granny Nick came down after Christmas. We laughed a lot. We sang a lot. We cried a lot at Marley & Me. But Katie and Mia made a fabulous video which I posted on YouTube. Granny Nick and I spotted a orange-crowned warbler.

Below are more pictures from our time at the lake.

Upside down Mia.

Mia and Lulu.

Katie and Mia have dessert and a movie in bed.

Hanging on the couch.

Orange-crowned warbler. First timer to Noodlin' Inn.

BILL & HILLARY ARE WITH CHILD(S)

2007-03-25T15:50:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to announce that, on March 18, Bill and Hillary, well Hillary, laid four beautiful blue eggs. The "brood" should hatch in about two weeks and "fledge" (leave the nest) about 16 days from when they hatch. Make your plans now to come and visit.

In the picture above,
Bill is getting ready to pick up a load of meal worms for Hillary. He is the perfect gentleman father.

Proud Pappa!(left)

WINTER SCENES

2007-03-25T15:32:00.000-07:00

As always, Nigel our Carolina wren was on the fence.

Red-shouldered hawk hunting for frogs.

Goldfinches, well being goldfinches. Very territorial about their spot on the thistle feeder.

Lulu steers the Sea Hag into port.

A male goldfinch impresses his female!

Lulu watches the sunset from the bow of the Mighty Sea Hag.

MEET BUZZY!!

2007-03-25T15:04:00.000-07:00

Up until now, Bill and Hillary, our

resident blue birds, have been the star attraction at the Noodlin' Inn. But this year brought us Buzzy, the pine warbler who has taken a liking to the free meal worms and suet. He is around all the time and is very friendly. He has a beautiful warbly song.

SOME WINTER FRIENDS

2007-03-25T13:32:00.000-07:00

What a great winter it's been for new feathered friends at the Noodlin' Inn. We've had lots of cormorants (too hard for me to photograph), yellow-rumped warblers, goldfinches (not as many as last year), pine siskins (above), a pair of mallard ducks, and the good news is that Bill and Hillary, for the first time, wintered on the property. More on that later. Our most ubiquitous bird was Buzzy, the pine warbler. Here are some photos from the last few months.

Of course, it wouldn't be a normal day at the Noodlin' Inn if Ziggy, the red-bellied woodpecker didn't stop in for a nut or twenty!

The past several weekends we've had this lovely pair of mallard ducks stop by for a happy hour feeding of bread. Need to come up with some names for these two. Let's hear it!! Isn't Mr. Mallard a stud?

Who doesn't love juncoes? We had so many this year that sometimes the front lawn looked like a junco yard!!

SOME NEW WINTER FRIENDS, CONT.

2007-03-25T13:14:00.000-07:00

A white-crowned sparrow rests on Ramsey's nose as he waits for the juncoes to leave the yard.

This is a yellow-rumped, or Myrtle, warbler that spent tons of time at the Noodlin' Inn, espcially in the driveway under the bird feeder. Smart guy, eh?

Here is a rare glimpse of a brown trasher that happened to poke his head out of the brush just as I was walking by. (This is Uncle Grumpy's favorite bird because his favorite hockey team is the Atlanta Thrashers!)

TWO BIRDS AND ORVIS DOG!

2007-01-22T17:33:00.000-08:00

Lulu, or Orvis Dog as she's known when she rides shotgun on the Mighty Sea Hag, keeps watch over her kingdom.

A brown thrasher thrashes in brown leaves beside the dock while a tufted titmouse takes a look around before heading to the peanut feeder.

NEW YEARS EVE TORNADO

2007-01-22T17:19:00.000-08:00

While the Nichols clan partied down at the Noodlin' Inn, a tornado stuck La Poyner just four miles away.

Luckily, the cows came through it ok.

RANDOM DECEMBER PHOTOS

2007-01-22T17:16:00.000-08:00

Buzzy, our resident pine warbler, takes over the meal worm station. I don't think Bill and Hillary are too pleased about Buzzy.

RANDOM DECEMBER PHOTOS

2007-01-22T17:14:00.000-08:00

Lulu goes on a location scout with her favorite photographer, Uncle Sticky.

RANDOM DECEMBER PHOTOS

2007-01-22T17:03:00.000-08:00

Pink and purple sunsets.

And purple and pink leaves.

REMEMBER DECEMBER

2007-01-22T16:45:00.000-08:00

Hello friends and fans of the Noodlin' Inn. I've been a bit busy, but I'm going to catch up now. Things were pretty wacky down here in December and I've got a load of photos to prove it. Let's get busy. (Above) Dr. Grey, I mean Tinker, got down to watching some serious Grey's Anatomy...like 27 straight hours. SERIOUSLY!! While Hanah Banana got down to eating some serious s'mores. And then there was that Dental Floss thing.

SHOP-A-HOLICS BUSTED!!!

2007-01-15T18:25:00.000-08:00

WHAT WERE THE ODDS THAT SARAH WOULD PASS THIS SIGN?

NOT GREAT! SERIOUSLY BUSTED!!

NEW YEARS EVE, TAKE TWO

2007-01-15T18:18:00.000-08:00

TAYLOR PERFORMS A GO-GO-STYLE VERSION OF "WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN" OUTSIDE OF A CHEROKEE TEE PEE. HMM. THIS GIRL NEEDS SOME CULTURAL AWARENESS TRAINING. SERIOUSLY.

MEANWHILE, AUNT SARAH PROVES THAT HER ACQUISITION THERAPY IS WORKING. JUST LOOK AT THAT SMILE ON HER FACE.

THEN WE HEADED UP TO FAT DADDY LIQUORS FOR CHAMPAGNE TO AND MEET SOME NEW FRIENDS. CAN YOU BELIEVE THEY CARDED THIS CHICK?

NEW YEAR'S EVE

2007-01-15T17:49:00.000-08:00

On our way to the big city--Noonday, home of the famous Noonday onion--for New Year's Eve supplies! Exciting view, eh?

Lindsay, I mean, Taylor wears the latest Frankston fashion. Call it the Britney-meets-Lohan-look.Hmm. I think Tinker is sporting three hands and no cell phone! No wonder she looks so distressed.

Buzzy, our faithful pine warbler sings "Goodbye to You" to 2006!
The Nichols' chicks pick up a scrumptuous NYE feast at the Purple Pig.

THANKSGIVING MORNING

2006-12-11T15:54:00.000-08:00

UNCLE BILL SLEEPS IN. WHO HIT HIM OVER THE HEAD WITH A SLEDGEHAMMER?

MIA MAKES BREAKFAST FOR THE TROOPS.

KATIE AND JAMERS GET ON THE COMPUTER AND ATTEMPT TO SOLVE WORLD PEACE.

LULU TAKES A SNOOZE, AND DREAMS ABOUT LEFTOVER TURKEY.

SASSY THANKSGIVING CHICKS

2006-12-11T15:41:00.000-08:00

The Nichols/Drago Thanksgiving/Birthday extravaganza drew a crowd of hotties. Lindsay Lohan showed up. Oh, sorry, that's Taylor!

So did KK. What kind of smile is that? A turkey vulture must have pecked her lips off.

Then this crazy woman with a glue gun in one hand and a sheet of metal in the other was "chickening around" all over the place. Cluck, cluck, clucked.

While Aunt Sarah with her Grace Kelly hairdo talked about having the coffee cup growing out her neck removed by a team of surgeons.

THANKSGIVING/BIRTHDAY

2006-12-10T17:26:00.000-08:00

GOBBLE,
GOBBLE,
ALL GOBBLED UP!!!

UNCLE BILL IS THE MASTER OF CEREMONIES FOR THE UNCLE NANCY/JAMERS BIRTHDAY EXTRAVAGANZA. WHO LET HIM LOOSE WITH THAT LIGHTER??!!

UNCLE NANCY AND JAMERS HOLD HANDS AND BLOW. THEY ARE BOTH TURNING 9-PLUS. FUNNY HOW NOBODY IN OUR FAMILY IS OVER 9=PLUS. (SURE ARE LOTS OF CANDLES!)

OH NO! UNCLE NANCY GIVES JAMERS AN UNCLE-NANCY-LOVE-MONSTER HUG AND JAMERS HAS HER EYES POP OUT! YUCK.

THANKSGIVING

2006-12-10T16:57:00.000-08:00

A white breasted nuthatch comes to see what all the fuss is about.
A bald-headed, purple-nosed nutbrain plays cards.
Granny Nick and Uncle Mike look like they've got winning smiles.

Taylor decides she doesn't want to eat turkey and eats Zambie instead

THANKSGIVING

2006-12-10T16:45:00.000-08:00

HMMM..Was I the only girl at the lake without orange rubber bands in my pigtails? Hannah Banana did.
So did MiaCocina. Both of these two little sea hags had lots of fun hanging around the hammock on the dock.
Uncle Mike, coach of the Philadelphia Flyers (NOT!) gives Katie support at the game table.
Ladies and Gentlemen: Here she is fresh from her overwhelmingly successful debut in New York--Ms. Jamie Nichols, star of stage and screen. (Well, maybe some day!)

MORE THANKSGIVING

2006-12-10T09:59:00.000-08:00

Tinker and Zambie hit the couch for a serious cuddle.

Hannah gets ready for her leopard-style close up.

Uncle Mike, the card shark, keeps his hand close to his vest. Oh, sorry, I guess he doesn't have a vest on.

Look at these cute salty sea hags out for an afternoon adventure on the
Mighty Sea Hag.Are they just too precious for words. YES!!

FULL MOON IN FRANKSTON

2006-10-15T10:33:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, the moon was full. Here it is peaking out from the tops of the trees directly across from the Noodlin' Inn. Don't you think it's time for you to visit? Hello? Come on....

SITTING BY THE DOCK ON THE BAY

2006-10-15T10:30:00.000-07:00

Sorry the picture is a little sideways, but Orvis Dog shifted her weight just as I took the picture of our new boat house and dock. Pray for rain--you can see how low the water level is!!

HICKORY DICK AND THE DOCK

2006-10-15T10:25:00.000-07:00

Whenever my boyfriend Dick isn't cooking a yummy tenderloin over hickory chips, he's on the new dock taking pictures. Here you can see his faithful photo assistant, Orvis Dog, waiting for someone to get the Sea Hag out of the new boat house.

EGRETS? I'VE SEEN A FEW...

2006-10-15T10:20:00.000-07:00

This summer we had quite a few great egrets at the lake. Most of the time they are fishing along the shoreline, but sometimes I catch them trying to look in the windows of the Noodlin' Inn and watch TV.

HUMMERS HIT THE HIGHWAY

2006-10-15T10:14:00.000-07:00

Rubert, our faithful ruby-throated hummingbird, stopped by one last time to say goodbye for the season. He and his three buddies are headed to South America for the winter. Party down in Rio! They promised they'd be back next year and, before they left, they reminded me to clean out the finch feeders cuz it's almost time for the goldfinches to hit town.

LULU LOVES THE MIGHTY SEA HAG

2006-10-15T10:10:00.000-07:00

As you can see, Miss Lulu has turned into a boating dog. In fact, her new nickname is "Orvis Dog" cuz she looks like an ad for Orvis. Everytime the boat comes out, she jumps in like an old pro. Sometimes she still acts like a city dog--the other day she barked at a jumping fish!

BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE

2006-09-21T06:44:00.000-07:00

This gorgeous butterfly has been hanging around for a couple of weeks. Can anybody tell me what kind he/she is? No fair googlin'. It's time to make your plans to come noodlin' at the inn. The season is changing and we all know what that means--new birds and critters!

LAST OF THE BABY BLUES

2006-09-21T06:37:00.000-07:00

Here's a picture of one of the three male blue birds from our last brood of the season. He's sleeping in my hand. This picture was taken when he was about 10 days old. Today he's about 5 weeks old and has left the nest. But he and his brothers haven't gone far..they show up every morning, noon, and night for a quick mealworm snack at the feeder.

2006-09-11T10:24:00.000-07:00

A tour of "our lakehouse"
by: Mia Drago
2003

HERE'S HANK...

2006-09-04T14:31:00.000-07:00

Hank, our favorite heron, hangs around the house.

NIGEL NABS A WORM

2006-09-04T14:23:00.000-07:00

Nigel, our forever-faithful Carolina wren, chows down on a delicious mealworm.

SPIDERS AND...

2006-09-04T14:11:00.000-07:00

A beautiful orbweaver spider spins a zig zag web to catch wasps and flies.

...SNAKES!!

2006-09-04T14:07:00.000-07:00

Uncle "Snakes On A Porch" Bill kills a chicken snake with a can of wasp killer! What a stud!

LIZARD LOVE

2006-09-04T11:40:00.000-07:00

Dizzy Lizzy, our resident anole, takes a late afternoon cruise on the fence.

HOWDY!!

2006-09-04T11:16:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of baby blue bird Sonny Jim waving hello (or maybe it was goodbye). He's pretty excited about the fact that this was his first day of learning how to fly on his own after leaving the nesting box.He stayed at the Noodlin' Inn until the middle of August. Sometimes he comes by to visit and grab a free meal worm.

BLUEBIRDS OF HAPPINESS

2006-09-04T09:55:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Bill (left) and Hillary, the Noodlin' Inn's resident blue birds. This summer the happy couple were the proud parents of eight babies (4 broods--Way to go Bill!).