More reviews

I mentioned in a recent post that a parent had left a review of myself and my childcare setting on another website.  Since then two other parents have written reviews:

Everything you could want in a childminder

I was really pleased when Michelle looked after my daughter.  I wanted somebody that I felt she was safe with, had the same approach to looking after my child as I did , somewhere that my daughter would be played with and taken out doing different activities and given healthy food.  I found all this at Michelle's.  The house is a clean/safe environment for the kids and you can tell by Michelle's own children how polite and well behaved they are and how happy.  That environment is what your own child will be around therefore felt at ease leaving my child with Michelle. I also found Michelle to be very thorough and professional taking pride in her job and making sure all her standards are to the highest so what more could you want for your child :).

Highly recommended!

Michelle looked after my son for over a year and a half until he went to nursery. Finding a childminder I was happy with took time, Michelle was the 7th person I'd seen, something just felt right. She has a lovely family and will welcome your child into it easily. She was always out and about doing fun things with the children, thinking up new craft / baking ideas. Shift work meant we needed flexibility which was not a problem. Michelle cooks really good healthy meals too that my son would enjoy eating with the other children and rest of the family, I was always jealous! I wouldn't hesitate in recommending Corby Childminder

Rhubarb and Custard Muffins

Our garden is nearing completion.  It just needs the shed, fences and play house painted and lots more plants put it.  We have a new border which we've decided to keep for growing fruit, herbs and vegetables.

Last week we planted chives, a bay tree, thyme, rhubarb, courgettes, and tomato plants.  I'd also planted French bean seeds but I think they've probably rotted as they were outside in pots in all that rain.  The plan is to plant a fruit tree.  However, I'm not quite sure how to get one in the car to bring it home from the garden centre!

I do hope the rhubarb is successful.  I was given the recipe for rhubarb and custard muffins so we made them today (rhubarb donated by my parents while we wait for ours to grow).  The cakes were delicious.  Even my son, who isn't a lover of fruit, ate them.

Recipe for Rhubarb and Custard Muffins
225g rhubarb
125g caster sugar
25g custard powder
175g plain flour
2 teaspoons of baking powder
100ml of milk
2 medium eggs, beaten
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
125g of butter, melted and cooled (I used Stork rather than butter)

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.  Line a 12 hole muffin tin with deep muffin cases.  I didn't have this type of tray so used a fairy cake tray/cases, the mixture made 17.

Chop the rhubarb into 1cm long pieces.

Sift the flour, custard powder and baking powder into a bowl and stir in the sugar.

In another bowl, beat together the eggs, milk and vanilla extract.

Make a well in the dry ingredients, add the wet ingredients,  Add the melted butter.  Beat together with a fork until just combined.  Use a fork to stir in the rhubarb.

Spoon into the tin/cases and bake for 15-20 minutes until golden/risen/firm in the centre.

Leave in the tray to firm up for five minutes, then transfer to cool on a rack.

Serve warm, dusted with golden caster sugar.  I didn't do this and they tasted fine without.  According to the recipe they are best eaten on the day they are baked.

Father's Day Crafts

It is half term this week but the weather has been awful.  We had a trip to Irchester Country Park on Wednesday.  We managed to have a long walk through the woods and have a picnic before the rain started.  Unfortunately, the rain got very heavy and the thunder started when we were in the play area.  We had to make a speedy exit.  We missed having an ice cream so stopped at Kettering McDonalds for McFlurrys.

We'd wanted to go out today for a walk with the older children riding their bikes.  I've spent the day looking out the window and hoping to see some sunshine but it hasn't happened.  Thank goodness for lots of arts and crafts materials as they always keep the children entertained.

I'd been searching Pinterest (very addictive website) for Father's Day craft ideas.  I showed these to the children and they chose want they wanted to make. 

This one was rather approriate as Dad keeps tropical fish.  The children commented that this  looks like a clown fish (Nemo).

On the front hand it says, 'I love you.....' and the folded card opens up to say, '......this much'.