I leave on my silent retreat early tomorrow morning.
I’ll be away all week.
I’m still apprehensive, but I’m more excited than nervous. I’m really looking forward to uninterrupted time to pray and simply be.
As my friend Ed has said before, this blog is like a hungry farm animal. Heck, my whole life is like a hungry farm animal. It will be good to step away for a time.
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Twitter
Who is this woman?
- Llama Momma
- My name is Robyn Whitlock, and I'm a work-at-home mom to three boys. I enjoy writing, reading, and cooking, not necessarily in that order. I hate doing laundry, which is unfortunate since I do a lot of it!! Oh, and I recently bought a llama with a few girlfriends. He lives in Ecuador with a family who finds him useful in their day-to-day lives. I'm still his momma, though.
Blogroll
Labels
a
(1)
about me
(48)
blogging
(12)
Books
(13)
Children
(168)
conversation
(10)
Cooking and Food
(35)
crafts
(1)
current events
(2)
disney
(1)
drama-in-real-life
(2)
Faith
(10)
family
(5)
friends
(2)
games
(2)
garden
(2)
grace
(8)
holidays
(17)
humor
(45)
it seemed like a good idea
(6)
Life
(57)
LOST
(1)
Marriage
(18)
meme
(3)
money
(1)
motherhood
(1)
Movies
(2)
perspective
(70)
pictures
(2)
poem
(2)
Poems
(4)
Prayers
(10)
Random
(13)
Relationships
(19)
school
(1)
social justice
(4)
spiritual growth
(35)
stories
(22)
summer
(2)
things that make you go hmmmm
(2)
vacation
(14)
video
(1)
Works-for-me Wednesday
(21)
writing
(23)
Blog Counter
Blog Design
117 comments:
I love the silent part... I can't wait to hear all about it!
Shhhhhh!!
Did she say hungry farm animals? Should we let them in?
Have a wonderful time - it sounds like an amazing opportunity.
Anonymous?? Is that D?
Neigh, says I. Letting the farm animals would be a ba-a-a-ad idea. You better mooooove them back away from here.
Uh-oh, Craver! It's too late!! They're in, now what?????
Anyone have any good recipes?
I hope I didn't keep anybody awake last night. I couldn't sleep with all these animals here. I learned the strangest thing. They respond well to choreography, so I taught them the Michael Jackson Thriller dance. Wanna see?
-five, six, seven, eight...
(stomp, shuffle, slide, stomp...)
Hey when you're done with the silence and the farm animals (OK- something about that just sounds wrong!) I tagged you for a meme.
Oh great! Won't Llama momma be so proud of her animals! Now if we could only get them house trained. She might be a little upset about that, but Thriller, WOW! IMPRESSIVE!
like the old saying goes...when the mamma is away, all the farm animals will play! bbaaaa! woooohooo! quackkkkk! hey, who brought the cheese dip...good stuff! you all better clean up this mess before mamma gets back! mmmooooo!
meow!
Are you sure that's cheese dip?
Hmmm... will you be allowed to talk to yourself? This could get complicated.
(Craver... Dip? Uh, no. I think it's the moon. The cow snagged it in a bowl just after the dish ran away with the spoon.)
(knock-knock)
Hello? Is anyone home? I thought I would drop in to say hello and gi- (shocked) . . . what in the world is going on here? Oh my, Llama Momma is not going to be happy with a kiddie pool in her living room.
I didn't do it - I didn't do it!
Oh isn't this a fun time! Here's some more dip. REALLY, it is dip! Keep those dancing farm animals away from it.
Hey Craver when does the Dancing Farm Animal show begin? I think you should teach them the Macarena next.
Hey, good to see you Mrs. Craver, be careful where you step. OOPS, too late! Sorry! Oh, just go use the kiddie pool.
"Helloooo?" *steps in, careful to avoid....nevermind.*
I can't say a word! I'm just trying to wrap my mind around this view.
I need my camera for this.
Oh dear, and I wore my good shoes, too! That's okay, I'll see if she has an extra pair of shoes to spare. I'm sure she won't mind. Found one!
Hey, you know, I think there's enough pairs in here for everyone in case of the, OOPS! stepped in it again! Will somebody clean up this mess!
At least I'm not wearing my good shoes this time!
Hey, Craver, since we have a pool, will you be teaching them synchronized swimming?
UH-OH, did someone say they were bringing a camera? Ok, only if you take pictures of the farm animals, that's it!
Hey thanks for the shoes,they're a little tight but I'm sure if I soak them in that kiddie pool for a while they will stretch out.
Great idea on the synchronized swimming. Will you be leading that Craver? and what music will you be using?
Oh, darn! I stepped in that stuff! Oh that Lamma isn't going to be happy with this. No not at all!
Does anybody know what this goat is chewing on?
Synchronized swimming? No, I have a major problem with that. You see, back in the day, I coached a synchronized swim team. One of the swimmers swallowed water, and these swimmers were so dedicated to synchronization, that they all drowned. It still gives me nightmares.
Where is my left shoe? ...Stupid goat, gimme that!
Slippery floor. Hey, I could do that Tom Cruise thing from Risky Business. (Fully clothed, of course!) "Just take them old records off the shelf..."
did someone say that carver is a party animal? hey, i'm hungry. think llama mamma has any snacks around here? when is she commin back anyway? let's check out the fidge. hey! i found some frozen pizza and some cat food! we are in business now. oh, here...popcorn!
I go to a party . . . and I just never know what to say . . . especially right now, with all these animals. I'll just go try to find a sheep-less corner and, um, munch on a celery or something.
Wow, Craver! Some shindig ya got goin' on here! Thanks for inviting Ornery and me over to join in the party. Look, there's "mmmmmm" hey! Why'd you cover my mouth?
Ummm, I don't think I'd eat that if I were you Nancy. I just saw the llama spit on it. Eeew. Hi, Mrs. Craver! Nice to finally get a chance to meet you! Cool shoes!
Oh, that's too bad about the drowning. Were they farm animals? You have such a way with them.
I can't wait for the big Thriller show you'll be putting on. Is that tonight?
Are you going to teach those animals that Risky Business move you just showed us? You had some good moves. Too bad you hit that lump of "?" and slid into the wall. Does that still hurt? Maybe if that goat didn't eat your left shoe you wouldn't have picked up so much speed. Wow, that was something, kinda like lightning! You were just moving so, so fast. I wich I had a video of it. Classic.
WHAT OR WHO IS THAT IN THE CORNER????
Did someone say frozen pizza and cat food? Sounds like a party to me!
Wait! Wait! Wait!! Don't turn that fan on! Uh-oh, too late. Do you think the cat likes spinning around and around like that? Oh boy, I'm getting dizzy just watching that. I better sit down. Oh YUCK, what did I just sit in?
Whew, it was just cheese dip!
*knock, knock* Llama Mama? Are you in here? I was in the neighborhoo...
Oh, man! Is that you? I didn't realize you really were a Llama . . .
hello, hello, have you really gone away - don't you hear the rooster crowing - it's time ot get up and take care of the children, feed father llama....
or maybe it's all just a bad dream
wait a second. what are all of these farm animals doing in here, doing synchronized swimming with Craver in this pool and wha...oh, yuck! did someone say there were more shoes around here?
Maybe we should hose this place down before Llama Momma gets back . . .
(sorry for the name misspelling before; I guess I was overwhelmed by the stench, I mean, sight of real llamas in your living room)
Good thing I got here before all the extra shoes are gone, because after stepping into this mess (I mean house), I'm going to need another pair! I think Craver should teach the animals a few more songs so that they can put on a show to welcome Llama Momma home in a few days! Enjoy everyone.
Boy, I've heard Llama Momma talk about how zooey things get when Llama Poppa's gone, but that hardly holds a candle to this!
Sorry I'm a little late, but I brought...oh dear, I set the plate down to take off my coat and now a goat's gotten into it. Looks like at least he's enjoying it. Oh well.
Glad to see you all. Hope Llama Momma's enjoying that silence...
What's that? I can't hear you over all the ruckus! Those line dancing animals sure can get loud!
Oh, and who let the dogs out?
(singing) Who let the dogs out? Woof. Woof-woof...
My, but this is a strong barn smell! Unfortunately, it's too cold to open the windows. The wind chill was 20 below this morning! I ordered a couple of hay bails from a couple miles down the road.
About the sad synchronized swimmer story, yes; it was animals... farm animals, as a matter of fact. (shudder)
Somebody's gonna have to muzzle this goat.
That's it, i'm going to change the water in the kiddie pool. Hey, that gives me an idea! Since it is SO cold outside that water will freeze quick. Craver ever teach farm animals to ice skate? At least it would get them out of here. The smell..OH SHOOT! ..I stepped in it again! Nice shoes Mrs. C, any more like that?
HELLO
Hope
you
All that silence filled with all these words. What's a Lamma mamma to do?
have
a
Time
its
a
hard
blogging
stuff
hahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahhaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahaahhaahhahahahahahhahahhahahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahhahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahhahahahhahahahhahahhahahhahahahhahah
welcome back
boy im now tired.
Very funny. Hey Imac, I need to get away from these animals. Would you please give me a hand? I'm trying to switch all the same-sized drawers around.
Later, I'm going to coat a bar of soap with clear nail polish.
Bet you are reading this
What-who-me-how-do-you-want-to-do-this-then-ohhellCravernicetoseeyouherethenhopeyourfriendwillbeabletoreadthisone.
Hey Anonymous!! Yeah, Like them? There are more like these in the closet where all the other shoes are at but the cool ones are on the top shelf. Be careful, someone put the extra cheese dip up there.
What's that stuff on the wall?
Hi Ornery's Wife! Nice to finally meet you too! Llama Momma was nice to enough to buy lots of shoes, you know, in case of of special occasions like this. Go down THAT hall, turn left, passed the room where all the cows are at, jump over the chickens, and make a right. Go to the closet that's next to the bed where the pig is reading "Animal Farm" and you'll find extra shoes in there but the nice ones are on top! Don't touch the extra cheese dip up there! Besides, it smells kinda funny!
Oh, Craver that's a good one!(the nail polish on the soap!) But what about the ice skating farm animals? Wouldn't the Llama Momma be so proud of her flock? Thriller AND ice skating!
Oh and don't forget about the saran wrap on the toilets. Oh I didn't say that -DID I?
Although these farm animals aren't using the bathroom are they?
Oh no! Not the bathroom! Yup, the bathroom! Someone (or something) has been in the bathroom since the party started!
Craver, check the bathroom!
It's locked, and no one answers. The light is on though.
Guys, we can't saran wrap the toilets, because then the suction cup toothbrushes won't fit.
Don't worry; that stuff on the wall will come right off. Spaghettipie thought it would be funny to start a wet toilet paper war, but she met her match when NaNcY got on board.
How do you make a cow go down stairs?
I don't know Craver, HOW do you get a cow to go down stairs?
Thanks for the fancy shoe tip, Mrs. Craver. I didn't know the Llamma had so many fancy shoes. Boy the things you learn about people when they are away!
Oh man! WHAT is that stuff on the wall? CRAVER!! Do you know what that is? How it get so high? Is there a giraffe in here?
Oh, I know. Maybe it was the cat. You know, when he was spinning on the cieling fan. By the way, where is that cat?
OK, people, that stuff is NOT cheese dip! Maybe at one time it was, but it is definitely NOT cheese dip now. Actually, it's kind of glowing. Do we have any animals here from the local nuclear waste plant?
Are you seeing what I'm seeing? That stuff on the wall is starting to move . . . r-e-a-l-l-y slow!
The cat is upstairs with one of the chickens attached to the ceiling fan . . . it's saying something about being his turn?
Is the bathroom available yet? Why don't you peek under the door, Craver?
The mouse that just scurried down the hall had a strange glow about it.
When is the dancing and swimming going to start?
The cow thing wasn't a joke. This beast walked up here by itself, and now it's standing in the hallway, blocking the bathroom door.
I'm afraid the only dancing I'm doing now is the potty dance. Maybe one of the neighbors will let me in.
Oh Craver I wouldn't go to the neighbor's smelling like that. You HAVE got to get that cow down!
Maybe you can coax it down with that glowing "cheese" dip.
That cow isn't going to move until Craver's done milking it.
Whoa, this party has gotten completely out of hand and it's only Wednesday! I hope Animal Control and PETA don't come by.
And Craver, I did NOT start that wet toilet paper war. I hate to point fingers, but check the bottom of some of those fancy shoes people are wearing for evidence . . .
Aw-shoot! Now what's stuck to my shoe? Wet toilet paper and what's this stuff? Oh gross, it looks like the cheese dip, but it's kind of glowing.
Hey, Craver, how's it going with that cow? Done milking it yet? Here why don't you use one of the Llamma's fancy pots instead of getting it all over the floor. The floor is bad enough with all this animal "business" and that tiolet paper and what ever this other stuff is on my shoes.
How's the pool coming? Is it frozen yet? I'm feeling a need to get outside for a bit.
It's great seeing all these familiar faces among the animals, but who's the guy over there sorting out the sheep from the goats?
Oh great! Looks like AMM is going to teach these farm animals synchronized skating. Thanks for taking that on. So kind of you.
It will definitley help to get these animals outside. Especially the glowing ones. We know how the Llama is all about organic and natural. I don't know how she'll feel about her now toxic farm animals.
You don't know me, but someone else who commented here does - kinda , sorta, in a blogging way - and he directed me here, and... well, I hope your peaceful time was great!
People! PEOPLE! People, we have got to get this stuff cleaned up. The Llama is due back some time tomorrow. The toxic waste cleanup people are coming some time tonight. So let's have our last hurrah, put these shoes back in her closet and by all means someone get rid of that "cheese" dip!
ok ok...hazel i right! lets get that swimming pool outta here...heave ho! maybe i shouldn't have said heave...oh dear.
Anonymous, either you stepped in the glowing cheese dip or you stepped on the glowing mouse.
The cheese dip is EVERYWHERE!!
That "thing" is still up on that wall. And nobody noticed that "who or what" in the corner? Anonymous did! It's been there for a long time . . . it just there . . . staring . . . watching us . . . creepy!
Somebody do something!
*SPLAT!!*
Happy now?
Craver will you leave that cow alone and protect your wife!!! I think we have enough milk? What is that stuff that came out of that cow? eeewwww!!!!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Uh-oh, NaNcY just got sick . . . I'm telling you, it's that cheese dip.
Who brought that dip anyway? Craver? You?
Hey, Mrs. C, I think it was cheese dip at one time but thennnn ..the animals got to it and I have no idea what it is now. I don't even want to guess!
Oh what a good hubby protecting you from whatever that was on the wall. Any ideas what exactly you just splatted all over the wall, Craver?
This is going to sound really gross but regarding poor Nancy and the heavin - that goat will eat anything. I'm just saying, not suggesting he actually - UH -OH too late. well I knew that goat would come in handy!
If we keep this up we could actually get up 100!
Woo- Hoo!
PARTY ON!!!!!
The goat!
Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Anonymous?
I don't know Mrs. C, what are you thinking? I won't tell anyone, promise. Mum's the word!
Well, since you say that goats are handy . . . and this place is a HUGE mess . . . getting the picture (ewww!)
I'll turn all the faucets on upstairs and close off all the drains. Meanwhile, as I sweep the water your way, you guys downstairs keep emptying these four wetvacs. Everybody else grabs a rag and let's get these walls wiped down.
This place has to be clean and dry by the time Llama Momma returns. No slacking off. Let's go; let's go!
Get those animals outside, too.
The cow? Well it's still upstairs, but I'll try to hide it in a walk-in closet, cause ol' Bessie refuses to go back downstairs, and I just can't think of what else to do with her.
Go ahead Craver, stick the cow in a closet. I'm sure the Lamma will NEVER notice! Just make sure you get all that wet toilet paper off it's feet. That's a dead give away!
ahhh....i'm feelin much better now! wow, this place is looking better already. who, would of thought that the goats woudld be so handy! oh hey, let me help empty the wet vacs!
what's that cow doing wearing llama momma's shoes? they really are cute shoes, the ones on the front hoofs especially. oh, i do like the red bows on them!
hey, the duck just unlocked the bathroom door...finally!
Oh! So that's who has been in the bathroom all week! The duck! Let Craver go first he's been doing that potty dance for a couple of days now.
Ok we're here! I see you started the clean up, Craver. Thanks!
Man, I don't think I've ever seen anything this bad. What is that stuff on the wall? Is it actually glowing?
Alright we'll need the heavy artillery.
Scrubbing Bubbles in that bathroom. What was in here a duck?
Ajax, in that kitchen, whew!
Lysol, over here, what do you think we can do with that stuff on the walls?
Can someone get that cat and the chikens off the fan?
OK people we have some work to do. Spic and Span why don't you take the living room.
ok carver...you can shut off the water now! carver....carver!
Oh look! There's a pretty waterfall coming down the stairs! Uh-oh, Craver forgot to turn the water off!
Can't . . . seem . . . to . . . stop . . . the . . . cat . . . and . . . chickens . . . from . . . spinning . . . around . . . on . . . the . . . ceiling . . . fan!
Boy, I'm getting dizzy trying to catch them off the fan! They're going around too fast!
What about that pig reading "Animal Farm"? Has anyone seen the pig? It had this weird look in his eyes!
Oooooh, poor, poor Llama Momma...when she gets back the fur is gonna hit the fan. And, present company considered, that will be quite a lot of fur...
*turns off the fan to help Mrs. C*
*opens the front door to let out animals, water, and glowing cheese*
*shuts the power down on the pig because we all know what power does . . .especially to pigs*
*looks around*
What else? Where are the noisy boys?
And who are the guys in suits? Did someone call Ghostbusters?
Shhhhh...
What's going in here ? I thought I'll come a little late here so that people are already done with what they wanted to do but...
oooopss the floor is still slippery. Damn it !!!
Who's going to clean this? Not me. I have just come and now I am hungry. What do I eat ? cheese dips? NOOOOOOOOOOOOO
No way! All week without talking? I could do it for a day. Let us know how it goes. I love the idea - just not the silent part. What if you need to sing or oray aloud?
(language, cuckoo)
WooHoo!! WE HIT 100!!!
Uh-oh, I hear a car driving up the driveway . . . could it be Llama Momma? (Peeking out the window) nope, just a llama. Hey! Who invited a llama? Party's over, llama has GOT to go!
Cuckoo, STAY AWAY FROM THE CHEESE DIP! It'll make you glow! That's what happened to the mouse. But you can try to get those shoes off the cow. NaNcY likes the ones with the red bows, make sure she gets those.
Okay people, I hear Llama Momma may be coming back today. We've got to get this cleaned up PRONTO! Everyone choose a room or team up with someone. Mr. Clean already started but things are not done yet. We want Llama Momma to invite us over again, don't we?
Craver, quit hiding in the bathroom and come out!
a-hem, Mrs. Craver, I don't know that we were technically "invited over". It's called a blog jacking, fun-yes, invitations-no.
You know I LOVE that waterfall you have going Craver, and I think the llama would like it too, but it's a little shall we say full of "animal business".
As far as that pig reading "Animal Farm" we better get that back I think that it is Lamma Momma's favorite book!
Sorry. I've never read Animal House before and I got carried away. It's pretty trippy. (flush)
Did she just call me a pig?
Oh that's right . . . no invite! Silly me!
I thought the water smelled a bit funny.
It seems that the animals are beginning to leave, something about not liking the clean smell that's starting to happen.
Just make sure the chicken feathers are picked up in the hall.
*Huff* *Puff* *Grunt*
'Scuze me! Comin' through! Can somebody help me get this toboggan up the stairs there. I've got an idea. We're going to need a few hands to coax that cow onto this thing. And once he's on there someone's gonna hafta open the front door.
Then I'm thinkin' a big shove and...
Oomph! I've almost got it! Just a few more steps... A hand anyone?
GREAT idea AMM! C'mon people, let's get this thing going!
Make sure you take Llamma Momma's fancy shoes off that cow!
Good job Craver keep coaxing that beast out of the closet with the rest of that "cheese" dip.
i'm done cleaning the kitchen...it's been...uhmmmm...interesting!
yep, that was some shindig.
i am not comming back here until LM is home and can keep an handle on these hungry party animals.
and next time...ah..no cheese dip!
This cow is so mischievous. Grrrrrrrrr... Hey let me have those shoes now. It's time, behave now, you good girl. *wink* Phew !!
And heck... my right hand has started glowing.
Hee hee.. couldn't resist those cheesy.... ooops. Did I say something?
I am HUNGRYYYYYY
This place is looking great everyone!
The Llamma will never know we were here!
Door open? She's coming down!
Okay, everyone ready?
One . . . two . . . three (push) Look out below!
Ha-ha!! Look at her go!
Down the stairs, out the front door and right straight for that . . . (BAM!!) Ooh, that's gotta smart! Tree don't look to good either.
Has anyone seen that glowing mouse? We can't leave here till we find that mouse. The mouse will tell Llama everything. Can't let that happen!
Cuckoo's hair is starting to glow, she got into that dip! Suggestions anyone?
Oh,great job with that cow Mrs. C! Don't worry about the tree, the Llamma isn't much into landscaping, she'll never notice!
Oh my! Cuckoo's hair is glowing...how about a hat?
Glowing hair... cool. I think she should leave it as it is.
I can't say for sure where the mouse is at, but since the cow's hoof is glowing, I have a little hunch.
Nice job in the kitchen, NaNcY. I hope you didn't switch the drawers back from how we rearranged them.
Oh my.
After the initial hugs and hellos, Twin b. exclaimed, "Dad let us have 26 marshmallows!" and Llama Papa said, "And...there's been a little 'activity' on your blog."
I should say so.
Nothing like five days of silence to contrast with two hundred and ten emails!!
(Shutting down the computer now...)
Uh-oh . . . she's back!
"Dun-dun-dunnnn!"
Ummmm, hi Llama Momma . . .
Ummmm, welcome back! :-D
knock-knock...
Um uh ..I...I just wanted to return these shoes. Sorry they're a little -um- yucky.
No. no they're not glowing.
well gotta go.........
Shows you have devoted friends!!!
Post a Comment