"font-family:">ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — Old photos scatter across

kitchen tables, beds or carpeted floors as pale fingers hover,

stopping over each one to reflect on past times. Floods of the

former wash over minds and seem to bring wafts of familiar cologne

and grandmother’s peach cobbler, the softness of that

many-sizes-ago prom dress and of a pouting toddler’s favorite

blanket.

"font-family:">One Malbis woman is bringing new meaning to the

phrase, “a picture is worth a thousand words,” as a box of old

photos can become a tale of family memories.

"font-family:">Dorothy Reisel, a scrapbooker since childhood and

scrapbooking consultant for the past eight years, says the

step-by-step process she teaches during Scrapbooking with Dorothy

at the George P. Thames Senior Citizens Center in Robertsdale makes

the task less daunting.

"font-family:">“First would be organizing your photos, then

organize your layouts for your pages then add enhancements,” she

said. “The last thing you should do is tell the story. Add some

information: who, what, where and when, and maybe more. For

example, I found it interesting to tell stories about my

grandparents’ courtship.”

"font-family:">She said she can help with projects from a quick,

pocket album to a storybook on the computer.

"font-family:">“Basically, I do a get-together so anyone who wants

to be introduced to scrapbooking can be, and if no one comes, I

work on the senior book,” she said. “They do a lot at the

Robertsdale center, and this just documents it. Anyone who wants to

come, can maybe organize their photos then go into an

album.”

"font-family:">Sarah Duncan, the center’s activities director, said

she appreciates having Reisel’s talent at the senior

center.

"font-family:">“She takes pictures of our activities and puts them

in scrapbooks. The seniors love looking at the scrapbooks and they

can buy extra pictures of the activities if they want to,” she

said. “She interacts with them quite well.”

"font-family:">Faye Howell, a student,

agreed.

"font-family:">“This is my first start. I kept saying I’m going to

get it together and get them (the pictures) ready to go see her,”

she said. “It’s kind of overwhelming, but she explains how to break

it down.

"font-family:">“She’s real pleasant to be around because she has

such a wonderful personality, and her scrapbooks tell a story, and

that’s what it’s really all about.”

"font-family:">Howell said she appreciates Reisel’s help,

especially when it comes to big, important

tasks.

"font-family:">“She is a very great organizer,” Howell admitted.

“I’m doing my husband’s Vietnam pictures, and it’s just unreal how

she makes it really come alive.”

"font-family:">Reisel said precious family memories can be lost

without scrapbooks.

"font-family:">“Every child should have their own story and every

family should have their own heritage,” she explained with a hint

of conviction. “Oftentimes they stay in boxes; it’s better to be

passed on.

"font-family:">“The best way to tell those stories is to put them

in an album.”

"font-family:">She said preserving for future generations is an

important motivator.

"font-family:">“Hopefully, my children and grandchildren can see

where their family started,” she said. “I remember sitting with my

aunt and hearing about my grandparents coming over from Denmark.

When it’s your own personal history, it’s

special.”

"line-height: 115%; font-family:">Scrapbooking with Dorothy is held

the first Thursday of every month at 1 and 5 p.m. at the George P.

Thames Senior Citizens Center, located at 22651 E. Chicago St. in

Robertsdale. For more information, call 251-947-8973.