The smell of burning leaves reminds me of ___________________________

Did you rake your leaves and burn them or brought them to the curb? Recall how many trees were on your street, did you walk along the sidewalk kicking up the leaves, did you ever make a pile of leaves and jump in them? * Collect some leaves and notice the smell and texture and especially the color, find adjectives for the color of the leaves.

The person who made the best apple pies on a crisp autumn day was  ____________________

Do you remember making apple pies yourself? Did you roll out the dough on a floured surface or did you buy pre-made crusts.  What was your favorite filling for a pie? Can you recall other foods that were special when the weather turned chilly? Was there a special soup or hearty meal that reminds you of autumn? * Bring in a pie to share and recall memories of baking.

 We did our pumpkin picking at _______________________________

Who was the person who carved your childhood pumpkins? Do you remember if you had a happy or scary pumpkin face? Where did you carve your pumpkin, recall scooping your hands in the pumpkin and pulling out the strands and seeds and meat of the pumpkin. Did you ever roast the seeds and have them for a snack? * Serve up some pumpkin pie and name some of the spices associated with the smells of the kitchen.

MIMA Reflection…

The Fall is a respite from the summer and an easing into winter.

MIMA MOMENT:

Collect the fallen leaves of browns and reds The magnificent colors will begin to turn heads

You’ll notice them all corralled within the picket fence Oh, how Autumn shows us all of natures’ abundance

My New Year’s resolution that I can remember is ___________________________________

Did you declare your resolution or keep it to yourself, who in your family made resolutions? Can you remember what you would do on New Years Day? Was there any special foods made on New Years Day?

 *Activity Idea: Write down a resolution that you could do this year.

I remember long pointed icicles hanging from __ ____________________________ .

Did you break off icicles and lick them?  Who shoveled the walk when it snowed?  Can you recall making and throwing snowballs or making a snow fort? Activity Idea: Read a children ‘s book with a snow theme and tons of illustrations.

To dry our snow-laden clothes after a day of play we would ________________________.

Did you wear snow pants, how did you keep your feet warm and dry, what did you put on your head to keep warm? Did someone knit your gloves or hat? Did you make snow angels? Activity idea: Bring in a pair of gloves and mittens and see what stories can be told.

The hot drink I would look forward to coming in from the cold was ___________________.

Did you enjoy your warm beverage in a mug or a cup? Was the hot drink heated on the stove, where was your stove located in your kitchen, was there always a teakettle on the stove? What did you “add” to your hot drink when it was made for you? Activity Idea: Serve High Tea with cookies and bring a pair of white gloves and see what memories flow…

MIMA Reflection…

New Year brings new beginnings

What would you like to begin that is new to you………

My favorite song around the Holidays was _________________________

Did you sing songs at your place of worship? Where you ever part of a choir or children’s group that performed in front of an audience?  Do you recall if you heard your songs on the radio or the phonograph? Did you have a Hi-Fi stereo system or a portable record player? During the Holidays did any friends or relatives play the piano and you sang along, or were there any other instruments you can recall that made beautiful music around the holidays.  *Make a list of holiday song words and see if you can guess the song.

My favorite movie to watch during the holidays was ________________________

What favorite movie can you recall that only came on TV during the Holidays? Remember where you would sit to watch the movie, was the family all watching together? Was your television in the parlor or family room? Can you recall when the black and White TV turned to Color? Was your TV on a stand with rabbit ears or in a console. *Pick some quotes from famous holiday movies.

My childhood town holiday tradition was _____________________________

Did your town have a parade for the holidays? What was the “Main Street” called in your town? Was the Main Street decorated with lights or holiday sights? Were there places to shop in your town? Do you remember getting holiday gifts at a local store? Can you name some of the stores in your town that you went to shop? Was there an ice cream parlor or a soda fountain that you would visit as a child? *Write a holiday card to your childhood home address and give them some history about the house or write to your childhood home library with some interesting facts about when you grew up in that town. .

MIMA Reflection…

Make Traditions a part of your daily life Recover and restore one tradition today For tomorrow you will reap what you have sowed.

The street Grandmother lived on was _____________________________

What one thing in particular do you remember about the outside of Grandmother’s house? What was your favorite room in Grandma’s house, where did you sleep when you stayed with Grandma? Recall the smell of Grandmother’s house, it reminded you of…? * Pick a room and list everything you remember in that room from Grandmother’s house.

Our family would travel to Grandmother’s house by ________________________ 

If Grandmother lived close by, how often would you visit? Did you have holidays or birthdays at Grandmother’s house?  If they live far away how often would you visit?  Can you recall how your Grandmother got around town? What do you remember about transportation in those days?

* Show pictures of older transportation, cars, busses, and trains and see what memories stir. 

Grandparents are special because they _________________________________

What special feelings did you have for your Grandparents, recall gifts you specially made for your Grandparents. How did you show your love towards your Grandparents and how did they show love back. What were your grandparent’s first and last names? *Assemble a simple 3-generation family tree.

 MIMA Reflection…

If Mother says NO, ask Grandmother!

MIMA MOMENT:

The smell, the feel of Grandma’s house Listen to your heart, be quiet as a mouse.

The feelings are just a memory away Your mind will travel to a simpler day!

A Mothballs in My Attic Moment

A MIMA Moment

Sharing your bounty and being thankful is a comfort. Mothballs in My Attic brings memories to life: In the kitchen, with women in aprons and hankies up their sleeves are washing and drying the dishes. When you look around at your gathering, remember those that have come and gone but left lasting impressions. Sow a seed of your own today. Play checkers with a young one, visit the “kids” table, tell a joke, make some noise. Be thankful and remember the feeling of Thanksgiving Day.

I spent every summer ______________________________

Do you remember going to camp or a summer parks program? Recall activities from camp days, making potholders, arts and crafts, braiding strands to make bracelets. Remember running through the sprinkler and spraying each other with the hose. Recall your lemonade stand and being proud of serving your customers. Remember the backyard Jerry Lewis carnival and acting out plays. Did you spend time with relatives during the summer, explore other towns? * Make a pot holder with the metal frame and loops, set up a makeshift stand and serve up some lemonade for a refreshing drink.

My favorite swimming activity was __________________________

Where was the pool located in your neighborhood, did you go to the pool everyday? Recall your times going to the ocean or lake and remember how the water tasted in each body of water. What age do you remember being able to swim by yourself, did you have to work your way to the deep end? What was your favorite stunt off the diving board? Recall how the bottom of your feet felt going into lakes and ponds and pools. * Create a water landscape together with sand, water, small sailboats and other floating items that you can blow around ~ serve goldfish crackers.

My favorite outside game we played was _______________________________

Recall your pink rubber ball you bounced in the driveway or against the house. What did you use as a marker for hopscotch, did you draw the hopscotch board in the street or on the sidewalk? Recall roller-skating and where you kept your skate key, did you ever make a go-cart or other things with wheels? Where did you play basketball, did you play a game or horse?  Recall your neighborhood park and visualize the swings and monkey bars.  * Use different colored chalk and draw scenes of a park, trees, swings, benches, dogs, etc on a chalkboard or mural, have a small picnic and pretend to have lunch in the park.

MIMA Reflection…

An August day leads to a summer sunset and the night melts into liquid gold.

MIMA MOMENT:

The swings sit motionless, no purpose at all to be

‘Til a visit to the park undoes the stillness in them and me

(Visit someone today!)

The family car we used for vacations was a ___________________________

How early in the morning would you leave for a vacation car trip, who always had the “hump” at their feet, recall the texture of the seat, was it material, leather, do you recall the color?  What was the furthest destination you traveled by car? Do you recall where you stopped for gas, was any gift given to you when you filled the tank, did they wash your windows? Did your car have 2 or 4 doors?

Activity Idea: Map out on road atlas destinations traveled by car, note popular roads and capitals of each state.

For our car trip the luggage was placed __________________________________

Who packed your car for a trip, did everyone have a suitcase? Recall your suitcases, what color was it, was it a soft sided or hard-sided case. Recall pushing down on the trunk so all the luggage would fit, or recall tightening straps on the roof for a secure trip. Did you play music in the car, recall what station you listened to, remember the push buttons for the car radio? Remember changing the radio station by pulling out the buttons and then back in again to set.

Activity Idea: Bring in a piece of luggage and see how it sparks some memories. Latch and unlatch or zip and unzip. 

Some items I brought in the car to occupy my time were _____________________,

Recall your favorite game you liked to play in the car, did you look at different license plates, did you signal trucks to blow their air horns? If you were antsy in the car who was the person who threatened to “turn the car around”?  Who did most of the driving, what snacks do you remember having, did you stop at a restaurant to eat or did you have an ice chest and pulled over at a rest area?

Activity Idea: Pack a lunch or snacks, pick a destination on the map and “ pull over” to your rest stop and have a picnic. Visualize your destination and the view you must be seeing.

MIMA Reflection…

Can you relive your time spent in a car Whether down the street or someplace afar No seat belts, no a/c just windows rolled down Heading for vacation to a new and exciting town.

MIMA MOMENT:

A car ride is mere transportation A family car ride is an heirloom of cherished memories.

Mothballs In My Attic (MIMA-mymah) is a monthly column to stimulate reminiscing and memories.  A MIMA Moment is a little snippet that has led us to the place we are today. Journey to the past to trigger thoughts, smells, and visual sensations and watch the activity bring in a flood of memories and conversation. 

The MIMA program includes one lead topic sentence, followed by additional related topics.  MIMA Months can be explored and expanded through various discussion groups, arts and crafts, family visits, dinnertime conversations and incorporated into physical activity. The possibilities are endless. Be Creative, start with your own memories and see what flows for you!

The neighborhood kids would all play_________________

What other games did you play outside, do you remember roller-skating and tag, spot, and kickball or stick baseball played in the street?  How many friends lived within walking distance, were you able to stay out till the street lamps came on? Do you recall a tree you would climb with your friends, bike riding to uncharted streets, making mud pies and digging up worms?

Activity Idea:Make up a game with a small rubber playground ball that each can throw.

A club that my friends and I made up was __________________________

Who belonged to the club and where did you hold meetings? Did you make a makeshift tent in the backyard and sleep in that tent, where was the first sleepover you had at a friend’s house? Recall where you and your friends would buy candy or ice cream. Did your friends have a nickname for you, do you recall a nickname of any of your friends?

Activity Idea: Seek out interests and then conger up a nice nickname for people in your group

The last day of school was celebrated by _____________________________

Recall your high school days, what was the most memorable book you read in school, who was your favorite teacher, did you receive a yearbook that was signed by friends and teachers? Did you have your report card the last day of school, did you peek inside or brought it right home?

Activity Idea: Make up report cards with special interest classes & grades (of course all A+’s).

MIMA Reflection…

Friends are a reflection of who you are or what you need…..

Recall your friends and what they added to your life.

May Reflections: Mother May I…..

Mother’s best friend was __________________________________

How did your mother meet her best friend, can you recall her name? Did Mother and her friends meet for tea, special occasions or simply talk on the phone? Do you have an ”aunt” that is not a relative but is considered part of your family?

 Activity Idea: Read aloud friendship poems and talk about old and new friends

My Grandmother’s favorite TV show was __________________________

Do you recall where Grandmother’s TV was located in her house? Did you watch TV with Grandma, do you remember the feel of the couch, recall some other items in the TV room? Do you recall turning on the TV and waiting so it could warm up and when you turned the TV off the screen went to a small silver dot in the middle then faded away? Did the TV have rabbit ears or was it in a console?

Activity Idea: Recall some of your favorite shows ~ dramas, westerns, movies etc.

The beauty parlor my mother went to was ____________________________

Remember going to the beauty parlor with Mother? Recall the gold packet the salon gave out that encased an accordion rain bonnet.  Did Mother have a favorite hairdresser, did she cut her own hair, did she cut your hair? How did Mother style her hair, did she use curlers? When growing up did you ever have a perm or bangs, recall your favorite hairstyle.

Activity Idea: Flip through magazines and look at different hairstyles and try some!

MIMA Reflection…

A Heart that holds a Mother’s Love Is sure to soar to Heaven above

Love knows no bounds…….who do you love?

April Reflections: Flowers and Showers

The rain gear I would wear was ___________________________________

What raincoat was your favorite growing up, did it have a hood, was it plastic or cloth.  Did you wear boots or rubbers that slipped over your shoes? When it was raining on a school day what did you do to pass the time during lunch, did you play games in your classroom, was there a cubby for your rain gear? Activity Idea: Think of some indoor games, checkers, cards and play a game.

The flower shop in town was called ________________________________

Where was your flower shop located, do your remember going in and looking through refrigerated doors at the arrangements. Did you ever have flowers delivered to your home, what were your favorite flowers? What flowers did you see from your windows in your house, did you have windowsill baskets or hanging baskets of flowers? Activity Idea: Bring in flowers and smell away the day and feel the deep breath and memories that wash over you.

The part of our town that always flooded was __________________________

Did you roll up your pants and wade through the flooded area, did the basement in your house ever flood?  Can you remember the water rushing down the gutters in your street. Did you ever wear an accordion folded rain bonnet? Where were the umbrellas kept in your house, did you ever see a rainbow after a rain shower, did you see steam rise off the ground after it rained. Activity Idea: Try on some rain hats and have a rain parade.

MIMA Reflection…

Rainy Days made you stop and stay–when inside games were played all day

Splashing and jumping in puddles galore—put up your umbrella it’s going to pour

The sounds of the drops reflect how we feel–and lead us to a simmering soup meal

Rain hats and goulashes wait for attention–looking forward to a Rainy Day celebration

Column adapted from the popular book Mothballs In My Attic, a spiral bound publication that includes 12 theme chapters with over 220 questions to stimulate reminiscing and conversation.

 Visit www.mimabook.com for order information

MIMA  Publications, 173 Maple Avenue, Metuchen, NJ  08840.

A favorite item on Top of my childhood dresser was _____________________

How many things did you have on your dresser, was there a dish for coins, did you have a piggy bank, was a comb or brush on your dresser, did you have a mirror above your dresser, did you stick photos in your mirror’s frame? Activity Idea: arrange some pictures from a magazine around a mirror and see what is inspired.

Perched on Top of our refrigerator was ___________________________

What do you recall was the most used item in your kitchen, what was usually in your refrigerator, did your freezer open on the top or bottom, what was kept in the cabinet right next to your fridge, what color was your fridge. Activity Idea: Make a list of favorite refrigerated items. 

My favorite thing to wear on Top of my head was ________________________

What color was the most loved item that you wore on top of your head, did you have a favorite barrette, scarf or hat?  Where were the hats and gloves kept in your house?  Did your mother or father wear anything on their head?  Who took you shopping for clothes, what was your favorite store? Activity Idea: Try on several head coverings and look in the mirror, stories may abound

MIMA Reflection…

Remember special times where you think and reflect

Wrap up those thoughts that are there to collect.

Top o’ the Morn to you today

Bright sunshine and rainbows are on their way.

Column adapted from the popular book Mothballs In My Attic, a spiral bound publication that includes 12 theme chapters with over 220 questions to stimulate reminiscing and conversation.

Visit www.mimabook.com for ordering information

MIMA  Publications, 173 Maple Avenue, Metuchen, NJ  08840.