Faq’s

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOR?

Green. Helen Keller was once asked the question: If you were able to see just one color what would it be and why? I don’t remember her exact words, but I remember she said green because so much of the world is that color. I agree with her. And if you don’t think the world is mainly green, come see my house. I have used every shade of green imaginable inside!

DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS?

We tried once. We bought fish. But we weren’t particularly good caretakers. And since my family likes being out having fun more than we like being home, our pets would have been very lonely! So no, we have no animals, and fish everywhere are grateful!

WHERE HAVE YOU TRAVELED?

I have been a lot of places and here are my favorites:
St Petersburg, Russia
Barcelona, Spain
Chiang Rai, Thailand
Paris, France (who doesn’t like this place?)
All of Tuscany in Italy

Here are the 52 countries I’ve visited so far:
England, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Bermuda, Greece, Spain, Russia, Thailand, Costa Rica, Anquilla, the British Virgin Islands, Italy, Vatican City, Antigua, Mexico, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Turkey, Nevis, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, including the Galapagos, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Jamaica, Monaco, Myanmar, United Arab Emirates, India, Bhutan, Australia, New Zealand, Bora Bora, China, St. Lucia, Iceland, Indonesia and Rwanda  (I have also been in 49 out of 50 states. I have never been to Alaska!)

Here are the places I still dream of going:
Egypt, Brazil, Jordan, Albania and Israel. (I’m sure I’ll think of more soon).

WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES?
In my spare time, I am trying to illustrate a picture book (I am not all that good). I am learning to speak Italian (I am getting better). And I read a lot (I am great at this!)

HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME? Do-Bull – accent on the Do. But actually, it’s French and if I lived there, they would pronounce it, Do-Blay – accent on the Blay, which rhymes with play. Duble, in French, means “of the wheat”. My maiden name (the one I had before I married my fabulous husband – his description) was Benner. Benner is German and means “maker of beans”. So I guess you could say I have a bit a food fetish (which means obsession). And since I forgot to mention my other hobby – cooking new dishes with my “fabulous” husband – I guess that would be true.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE BOOK AS A KID?
My most loved book was THE SECRET GARDEN. Even today, when I look out my window at the woods around my house, I dream of building a secret garden (with a pool) where no one could ever find me, even if they yelled, “MOM!” or “HONEY, WHERE’S THE MUSTARD?” as loud as they could!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE KID’S BOOK NOW?
Hands down – Tuck Everlasting. I love the image at the beginning of the book, where the Ferris Wheel is poised and you are on the top chair just waiting for it to start moving again and you know it will soon and are just holding your breath in anticipation. That is how I feel every day when I wake up! (Okay, not every day. Some days, I’m a little tired, but I WISH I felt like that every morning).

IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND AND COULD ONLY EAT ONE FOOD FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Lobster – right off the boat in Maine – steamed with drawn butter. If no butter was available, then Reese’s peanut butter chocolate ice cream (not to use with the lobster – just to eat by itself!) What would you choose? Write and tell me!