"In the book of life the answers aren't in the back." Charlie Brown

'Tis a pity really because sometimes I would dearly love to refer to the back of the book and be enlightened as to some of the answers.

It has been a li'l while since I have visited 'the land of blog'. Our family has experienced a very sad time with the passing of a dearly loved member of our family who fought valiantly the cancer which finally proved to be too powerful. My sister-in-law fought so hard and for so long that we were not prepared for the end. We hoped beyond hope that we still had more wonderful moments of time to share;  to soak in her optimism and loving heart but alas, such was not to be the case. My story is no different to so many others. It seems to me that each one of us,  has been touched by the sadness of cancer sometime throughout our lives; that we all know and love someone who is battling this insidious disease or some other terminal illness.

Though my heart feels hollow and aching I have kept my mind and hands busy with a li'l stitching. I have found a li'l solace stitching my scrappy postage quilt in my sunny sewing room which in an odd way seems to brighten my day. I have found the stitching of this pretty to have somehow cheered my days...........a little. It is a quilt that requires very little thought or concentration. All it requires is a hit-or-miss placement of itty bitty squares; stitching square by square, row by row; culminating in a higgledy piggledy, fun and pretty quilt.

I am thinking that this quilt will be a queen size quilt, so there is quite a way to go.

To soothe the soul, me and Miss Maisie, with the sound of the last frost crackling under our feet, have been taking many a lovely morning stroll  through the picturesque countryside; enjoying the warming Spring days as Spring begins to spring, as  the countryside slowly awakens with the effervescent sounds and scents of new life. The handiwork of my Heavenly Father's glorious creation before me is balm to my soul.

Lush, velvet green paddocks dotted with sweet, sweet itty bitty new born calves. Yes indeedy, Spring is a glorious season.

Ironically, my sister-in-law slipped quietly away on Daffodil Day which here in Australia is a day where the Cancer Council of Australia raises awareness of cancer and is a fundraising event to continue it's research into cancer. Daffodil Day helps grow hope for better treatments and more survivors. To the Cancer Council, the daffodil represents hope for a cancer-free future.

So in remembrance of my sweet, sweet sister-in-law, who day by day wrapped every one of her family in the warmest of hugs, I have picked a sun-filled bunch of daffodils from our garden. Whenever I drink in the sunny daffodils in our garden, it brings to mind those of my beloved family and dear friends who have been afflicted with this disease. The cheery and sunny daffodils help me to reminisce the fun times and nostalgic memories spent with these loved ones.

Forgive me my melancholia.........I will endeavour to find my usual droll self, not before too long. As E.A. Bucchianeri once said........it's true, is it not, that when all is said and done, grief is the price we pay for love.