Manatee fundraiser Final Day

It’s officially flipper chewing time here at Manatee Central.

It’s the final day of my fundraiser benefiting the endangered manatees of Belize. I am so glad to see the total reach $620, but would love to raise that total to the goal of $700 or even more.

You may have recently seen news of the amazing manatee rescue operation in Florida, where 19 manatees were pulled from a drainage pipe in which they had become trapped. A large group of people worked all night to rescue them, involving city workers, manatee specialists and volunteers. It really takes some equipment and human power to deal with all the issues (most of them human caused) which afflict manatees.

In Belize there is a ready group of volunteers, lead by the amazing Jamal Galves.

Click to view Oceana's video about Galves and manatee rescue in Belize

What is missing is the equipment to quickly respond to injured manatees. The group has relied on borrowed equipment and this isn’t acceptable when every second counts. As Jamal explained in a message,

These important tools we need I can assure you are the difference between us rescuing an injured or sick manatee or dragging away a dead carcass. 

$700 is not the total needed to purchase a boat, truck and trailer for manatee rescue. It is just a fraction of the total needed, but each increment brings Protect Our Manatees Belize (under the auspices of Sea to Shore Alliance) closer to their goal.

Please help me help this great cause today! 25% of your purchase price from the denisebrain Etsy shop and the denisebrain web store will be added to the total. If you prefer, you may donate directly on my YouCaring.com page set up for this fundraiser. Even $5 brings us closer!

A wintery mix

OK Boston, enough’s enough, right? 

Trying to find something to do? How about grabbing a friend and going out for some fun in the snow:

Postcard found on eBay

1880s Victorian ice skating outfits, with long skirts, high collars, nipped-in waists, chic little hats, and fur muff. Photo by H. Stevens. Copyright: British Library Board.

1939: New York World’s Fair Employee Snowball Fight, found on Retronaut

Vogue December 1938, Roger Schall photo

Two ladies making an elegant “snow lady” 1891

Or what about finding yourself a vintage hat to make you think of spring even while it’s still winter?

1957 photo by Yale Joel

I know, I know.

OK, last try...here’s my slightly infamous margarita recipe:

Maggie’s Margs for Two

• Squeeze a fresh orange and a couple fresh limes and measure out 2 shots of these juices combined (3 oz)
• Throw into a cocktail shaker with 3 shots of reasonably good tequila (4.5 oz)
• and 1 shot of Cointreau (1.5 oz)
• and 1 shot of water
• Add all the ice the shaker will hold and shake while dancing and singing Amada Mio à la Gilda (Rita Hayworth was born Margarita Carmen Cansino, and one story goes that the drink was named after her)
• Pour through a strainer into 2 glasses filled with ice and add a half a shot floater of Cointreau to the top of each drink

You may want to add a little more lime juice or a little more orange juice (or both) depending on your taste. I don’t prefer the salt thing but feel free if you do.

One of these babies tends to improve one’s attitude.

From the José Cuervo website

Good luck!

Manatee fundraiser Day 21

Here’s where we stand (float?) today on the fundraiser for the protection of manatees in Belize.

Two days ago I took encouragement from the number we had reached and up the goal to $700 for the month. I couldn’t do this without the generosity I have been shown.

Then yesterday, there was this post on the Protect Our Manatees Belize Facebook page:

Our Belize Manatee Project team was just starting to think it possible that they would finish the week without a dead manatee reporting but sadly, a deceased female calf was found late this evening. The team has not been able to get through a full week without the report of a dead manatee since the start of 2015.

Manatee mortality is still very high in Belize and the need for continued conservation efforts is more pressing now than ever.

Manatees are endangered because of human activity, and it is our responsibility to work to protect these gentle creatures. If your pocketbook is empty, would you help me spread the word? And if it’s not empty, even $5 will help. Thank you so much!!

Upping the goal for manatees in Belize!

OK. It's like this: With 11 days to go in my fundraiser I have upped the goal to $700. Does that sound like a lot? Well, did you know that an orphaned baby manatee must drink a bottle of milk every two hours? And that in Belize the milk they must be fed costs $14-17 US dollars per bottle? You can see how even the wee-est manatee costs quite a bit of money to help, not to mention expertise, equipment, heart and soul. 

Even $3 makes a difference. Let's do this for the manatees! (And many thanks to those who have already chipped in!)

Manatee calf rescued in Belize, photo by Shelley Bowen Stonesifer

Manatee fundraiser Day 14

Love the cause you are supporting!

And I love hearing that from customers! Because of your purchases, and the support of individual donors, my Protect Our Manatees Belize fundraiser is up to a total of $509 today. If we can top the goal of $600, believe me, it will be well used in protecting, rescuing, rehabilitating and advocating for manatees in Belize. 

By the way, Happy Valentine’s Day! 

xox, denisebrain

Image courtesy of Peppermint Narwhal Creative

My funny Valentines, part 2

This may be OLD HAT but won’t you a-DRESS this with me?

Last year I had so much fun putting together vintage Valentines with vintage clothing I’ve photographed...so I did it some more! Here are my funny Valentines: