Oh how I love the taste and scent of coconut kisses.
You’re thinking candy. Well, it’s not.
Before my husband gets in the boat for a day of fishing or photography, he lathers up with sunscreen and then applies the most delectable balm, which contains a coconut flavor, to his lips. SPF 40 or greater, of course.
Then, the best part.
He gives me a kiss and it stays with me.
Even with my second cup of coffee on the veranda, I taste the kiss.
By noon it has worn off.
But yet, it lingers all day.
My tropical kiss.
Making coconut fish is yet another mania in our tropical setting.
Go into any home, restaurant, bar, gift shop, bait and tackle, or sit on someone’s veranda 
and you will see brightly colored, outrageously decorated coconut fish suspended from some conspicuous place. Attend a street festival and you will notice them (or avoid them).
Because I have coconut trees growing around our house and therefore, coconuts falling from the sky (a child’s perspective), I have put them to good use for those who want to make a coconut fish. Mainly our visiting grandchildren.
Makes a great souvenir and remembrance from a visit to Grandma and Grandpa’s.
Also, from a retired teacher’s perspective, it keeps them occupied. Kids can be so creative and imaginative. The outcome is fun and well worth the hassle.
Just getting them home on a plane can become a pain, but that’s the parent’s problem or mine if I have to ship them back.
Directions for Making Coconut Fish
- Use weathered coconuts whose milk has dried up.
- Screw an eye hook into the top of the coconut.
- Attach fishing line to eye hook so it can be suspended.
- Fashion a tail. We use aluminum flashing. Insert tail at end of coconut using a jigsaw to make the cut.
- Spray paint coconut with bright color. Use acrylic paints to decorate fish.
- Paint eyes on fish or glue on plastic wiggle eyes and even fancy fake eye lashes found at craft stores. Paint in some lips.
*** Do I need to add that this can be messy? Keep old adult t-shirts around for painting cover-ups. Don’t want the parents mad at new summer clothes getting ruined. (Can’t blame them).
For the best in Travel Photography check out the guy I get my Coconut Kisses from, Ron Mayhew Photography.
Great idea for the grandkids visit 🙂
and I thought they grew that way…..
Do we not have a coconut fairy?
This is so great! I’ll have to find the image of a ‘coconut’ head that I painted and will post it at some point!! Z
Yes, do so. Would love to see it, especially with your design talent.
What a great idea. Keeps the kids busy and a wonderful reminder of their trip. Miss seeing coconut fish and tropical stuff. However, looking at mountains and fire/smoke in the distance. Beautiful sunsets.
Thanks for visiting my site for a dose of tropical. Dianne, I hope the wildfires get better and not a direct threat to you. Enjoy your Colorado sunsets.
What a fun, tropical-inspired project, Lynne! What grade did you teach previously?
Actually, high school English. However, I love to come up with things for the grand kids to do that tap into their creative side.
Thanks Lynne for posting the pictures, I know those hands anywhere. Yes, they love their coconut fish, it was the first thing they showed me from their trip. Eric kept saying, I didn’t get a fish. Fix him up the next time they visit. Thank you and Ron for loving my grandchildren!
Thank you Judy for visiting my website and seeing a little of the process of the kids making coconut fish. We tremendously enjoyed your grand children’s visit with us and they are so easy to love and are a blessing.
The rains came just about nap time and continued all through dinner.
Naturally, we thought of you, drank a toast to your safe journey.
Sun is out and with it a rainbow. Save a coconut for us!
Looking forward to your next blog.
How great to see a rainbow from your beautiful mountain home. Thanks for the well wishes and we will be sure to save the coconuts. What a super time we had with you.
Lovely post. Your coconut kisses are a blessing. 😉 Your coconut fish are so colourful. Great idea to keep the grandkids occupied.
Yes, I treasure my coconut kisses and my grandchildren. Blessed to have both.Thanks for visiting and commenting.