all is quiet...

and peaceful in my little corner of the world...

  

With what has happened in Texas, I'll wait to share Throwback Thursday, stories of high school graduation, and other happenings here on the farm. 

It seems more appropriate to send prayers of strength, comfort, and courage to the families of the 19 children and 2 teachers who died in Tuesday's elementary school shooting. 

All life is precious, and to have young lives cut short is tragic. 

Any life cut short at the hands of another, in such a way as this, is reprehensible. 

manic May...

Webster's dictionary describes "manic" as follows:

"excitement manifested by mental and physical hyperactivity, disorganization of behavior,
and elevation of mood."

Why yes, that would about describe this month perfectly! May has been filled with high school awards programs, band concerts, college decisions, prom, and get-togethers with friends. In the mix was also a college graduation for our daughter (summa cum laude...so proud!) and a ballet company performance early in the month, with another in a couple of weeks.

Toss in the usual post-winter outdoor clean up (fallen branches, trimming, tilling, weeding, coop and barn cleaning, planting, and mowing, mowing, mowing) squeeze in Spring dust-bunny-busting and I'm exhausted. 

Yep...May is definitely filled with "mental and physical activity and elevation of mood"...and you know what, I think I'm (slowly) learning, that's just how it should be...how's that quote go? "Enjoy the season you are in." Not only the seasons of the year, but the seasons of our lives. To my blogging friends; my apologies that I am running behind on commenting on your blogs and posting here.

High School graduation is Sunday and I'm trying to pull myself together (note to self: bring tissues, I'm pretty sure I cried through the entire 2 hours of last night's band concert). He's decided to attend our state university and will major in biochemistry...I truly don't know where the years have gone. 

And so the rest of the week I have my giant to-do list to tackle and then we'll plan a graduation open-house for friends in a couple of weeks. 

I just wanted to pop in and say "Hi" and that I'm enjoying your posts...always a fun way to begin each day. Take care, I'll be back after graduation (sniff, sniff).

throwback Thursday...double chocolate chip cookies

May here is always busy...yardwork, planning for gardens, end-of-school ceremonies & concerts, and spring cleaning. 

This year we'll celebrate two graduations...my daughter will be getting her university diploma for dance/ballet Saturday. She's dancing with a ballet company while finishing up her Psychology degree and will graduate with that next spring. My son will be graduating from high school in 17 days, and just committed to a college where he'll major in Biochemistry.

More about all this later...but honestly, how did we go from 

this,

to this?

Proud and excited as each of them chase their dreams! 

(and of course, a bit weepy...time flies, sniff, sniff)

Anyway...today's recipe came from my mother-in-law's recipe box and is another chocolaty one (do you see a pattern here?) I finished baking them just as my friend arrived with 9 glorious gallons of fresh, raw milk.

Just look at the cream floating on the top waiting for the best homemade butter and cheese...ahhh, what a treat!

Double Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

1-1/4 c. butter, softened

2 c. sugar

2 eggs

2 t. vanilla extract

2 c. all-purpose flour

3/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder

1 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

2 c. chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together butter and sugar; add eggs and vanilla. Beat until combined. Gradually blend in flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased* cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 9* minutes. Cool slightly.

*While I didn't make any ingredient changes, I did put a parchment sheet on my baking sheet, and Mae needed a full 10 minutes for the cookies to bake, but then, each oven is a little different.

I don't think this is the best photo...but truly, if you have a chocolate craving, these are for you!