Look! I can make things!

I tried to make coconut oil again last night and ended up with something closer to coconut jello. FAIL!

But I did manage to make an enclosure for a little guy I found in the middle of the road!

Spike is an invasive Jackson's Chameleon and is now our personal little dinosaur!

We had a small terrarium that we were keeping geckos in on and off ( we have a history of catching scaly friends) and that was just too small.

So off to the hardware store we went! I would like to point out that the tools we have are the following
- hand saw
- hammer
- converting screw driver
- staple gun
- leather man
- wire cutters and wire shears

We used to have more but we didn't bring much when we moved. So with some lumber screen from a repair if some kitty damage and our minimal tools we made this!



We are not done yet but it is functional and Spike loves his new home! He went exploring ( screen is way better than glass! He can hold on to screen!) and us currently sitting on his big stick with his tail curled up!

I am feeling accomplished and wanted to share a success!

Coconut oil. Trial and mostly error

I will admit it, I failed miserably at my first two attempts at making coconut oil.
Here is a step by step of what I did and where I went wrong...

Attempt #1
- The first and easiest step for me in making the coconut bowls is having my other half, halve them and take out the coconut meat. I took the left overs from the latest bowl and used them for this first attempt.
- I them broke the meat into small pieces and placed them in the blender with some water. I added the water slowly until it all mixed well.
- Them I poured the coconut awesomeness into a large bowl.
- then I kneaded it for a while. (this got messy)
- I DID NOT THINK AHEAD and had to call for my husband again, and get him to bring me another bowl and a strainer.
- Messy hands and all I squeezed the coconut meat through the strainer into the other bowl. It felt awesome between my fingers!

I think to here I did ok!

Here is where I went wrong....
I put the mess on the stove. Once it was boiling it went CRAZY! I think there was more water in it then I was aware. According to the video I posted last time what I SHOULD have done was let it sit for a while and settle. Then the water would have partially separated from the coconut milk and it would not have boiled so violently. Well I didn't. It overflowed. All over the stove. At this point I decided to stop.

OOPS!

The left over coconut meat

Attempt #2
My thinking was "maybe the whole extracting the coconut milk AND making the oil was too much for the first time, I'll start with my canned coconut milk!"

- Emptied can into pot
- turned on heat
- waiting for a while
- watched it boil
- freaked out that it was taking too long and stopped.

I think I was on the right track and just quit before I was done! I kept the now concentrated coconut oil so I might give it another shot.

I think I am on the right track! 

Directions? Who needs that!?

Coconut oil is awesome! It is amazing for cooking, amazing for my coconuts, and awesome as a beauty project!

I can skim through some sites and videos and figure it out right?

NO!

First attempt ended in a HUGE mess, second? well not so hot either.

Next I am going to follow this video.