This is just a preliminary gathering of photos. I hope you’ll share yours and return when more photos have been placed here, along with their stories.

Ila with our German shepherd Aisha.
Summerhill, 2003

I never learned to love ginger and I think I know why: instead of gingerbread growing up, Ila made chocolate-bread houses with smarties. As the years went on, she made more but smaller houses, and they ended up on mantles and tables in many homes. Summerhill, Christmas 2005.

Nasturtiums. A constant in our kitchen and garden. Not only are they beautiful, but you can eat the stems and even flowers, and they have a peppery bite.
Summerhill, 2005.
Working in the garden at Summerhill. It wasn't easy to get my mom to stop for a photo. I remember digging and pouring foundations for the sound wall behind her, and her choosing the dark green stain.
Summerhill, Summer 2005.

Although I can't recall the topic, I vividly remember my mom being deep in an explanation when I took this photo.
Summerhill, Summer 2005



Ila speaking to Zenta, one of our German Shepherds. I learned my love of animals from her, but also how to have the patience to communicate with them as well.
Summerhill, Winter 2002.

Summerhill, 2011

Cogwheel train up the Rigi Kulm. When I was young, Ila took me to the top. To the view is incredible. I returned two more times, every 10 years or so. The ride up and country side remind me of her.
Luzern, Switzerland, 2011.

View from the top of Rigi Kulm.
Luzern, Switzerland, 2011.

Every Easter Ila experimented with new ways to paint eggs, but we also dipped some in food colouring. The complicated patterns come from layers of wax we used to change how the colours adhered. This particular photo is from 2003, but she made them as long as I can remember. Summehill, 2003.

Germany, 2003