One of the downsides of working alone on the farm is that there is no one to say Well Done. Our John comes home so late and leaves so early he simply does not see what I do. (So I am lucky that I have you – The Fellowship is laden with people, women and men alike, who know how important it is to say – “That was well done.”) 
Our John moving the work bench from the chook house to the barn. Well Done.
I knew a lady in New Zealand, she was a check out girl in a busy supermarket- though she was no longer a girl. She was large and bosomy, blowsy and over blown in the most delicious way. Short with big feet and a smile that was powerful. She beamed. She was Glory. And when she saw me in her check-out line at the supermarket, she would loudly greet me “Hello Beautiful Girl!. How are you my friend. Your work last night was glorious,” she would say referring to something my students had done, or “Hello Beautiful – I loved our homework last night.” Referring to the work her son brought home from school.
She would shoot my purchases across the scanner with an efficient movement that I envied. She was completely at home in her Self. And she always called me Beautiful. Even though, as I gathered up my bags and slung them across my shoulders, marshalling my children, ready for the walk along the beach and back up the hill to my little house, I would hear her call out with absolute sincerity: “Hello beautiful, how are you?” – to the next person she knew in her queue and she was the kind of person who knew everyone. It never once took from me that lovely feeling of being recognised and empowered by her beautiful ‘Well Done. ‘
Well Done miss c, I tell myself – for finally raking the hay properly. Following my instructions from the hay man to the letter – it came out perfectly. I have been learning how to do this for two summers. Now I have got it! I am now confident in my hay raking abilities. And I felt delightfully and quite ridiculously proud of myself as I drove the tractor and the rake back to the barn leaving a perfect field behind me. Now if the showers that are predicted do not fall, this will be a small but gorgeous load of hay.
I have decided that we cannot afford to buy another cow this year. I have two trips to New Zealand in October and January – dates I would not miss for the world. I will take you with me! And as we all know – money does not grow on trees. But we will rattle on. Life is life. I will live with it! Maybe I can milk Daisy once in a while, share with her calves every now and then. Given that I can get her healthy. But my stomach cannot tolerate pasteurised milk, I cannot digest it, so it will be a mostly dairy free summer, next summer. Until Aunty Del comes on line the following spring.
We will work it out – you and I.
I hope you all have a lovely day.
Your friend on the farmy,
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
72 responses to “Well done”
Muy bien hecho guapa – that’s “very well done, beautiful!”
I agree with you: a deep acknowledgement from someone who honours everyone is no less.
Dairy does not agree with me very well at the moment, not sure why. However, in my efforts to be dairy free I started making almond milk. It is nice in my coffee and oats and smoothies, but of course it does not make cheese! I thought of you yesterday as I was ‘milking’ the nut bag for a fresh batch, it is a bit like milking a cow! It pains me to give up dairy, but I am hoping it is only temporary, and for you it certainly would be, so perhaps the almond milk would work as an interim measure. I’ve never had a commercially made almond milk I liked, only the homemade one! Best to you. x
I would but recently i have developed a ridiculpus nut allergy, my mouth goes all tingly and i find it hard to talk, almonds are one of the major culprits.. how unfair is that? I hate giving up nuts, probably about as much as you hate giving up milk.. c
Brava, Celi! I hope you got the hay loaded before these storms hit. I’ve got 2 bird cages on my back porch that were drying. Now they’re soaked again and will likely spend the night out there. Lucy isn’t gonna like this one bit. 🙂
so far the storms are going around us, now as soon as john gets home i can load it in the barn, almost done!.. c
Good luck!
you are an amazing woman, an everything you do is well done, but not boiled! – not over done
In case you want to try it here’s a recipe for the almond milk… http://ardysez.com/sane-eats/almond-milk/
In my head I sometimes substitute the phrase ‘well done’ with ‘that’ll do pig, that’ll do.’ xx
Hey Celi … aren’t people like the checkout lady just the best! I always tell myself WELL DONE – just in case nobody else notices! How exciting it will be coming home in October. It is wonderful having something to look forward too!
To say Well Done is to magnify the magic of the work… in the words of Phillip Brooks… “To say ‘well done’ to any bit of good work is to take hold of the powers which have made the effort and strengthen them beyond our knowledge.”
Agreed 100 %
‘Well done, Beautiful Lady’ . . . . how many times has that been written into my message . . . and, even if it has not, you KNOW we have meant it!! So why the heck are all of us here . . . . 😀 !! huge hugs and ni-ni when the time comes and sorry about the financial balancing act re cows v airline tickets . . . nought new for me in the past few decades . . . .
you are all so good at saying well done, another reason to love you so.. c
Gorgeous bird . . . . don’t think any of us ‘stay’ where there is no appreciation, understanding, respect and admiration . . . .
You might want to check out Kickstarter and raise funds to get a cow. There are other fundraising sites too that might be worth looking into.
A big Well Done. You accomplish so much every day. Bravo!
Well done, Miss C. Your hay field looks good, I hope the rain held off long enough. My hubby is always amazed when I tell him all the things you tackle in a day’s time, tromping through snow or whatever comes your way.
I understand the feeling in hearing the words, “well done”. Sometimes I am like the child needing approval for my day’s work. When FD comes home I show him everything I managed that day. And perhaps that what it is for me – needing that pat on the back and words of appreciation, for that it how I grew up as a little farm girl. It feels good to be noticed and know that we make a difference with our contribution to life’s work. If only more employer’s practiced this “well done” comment of appreciation. Perhaps more people would be happy with their work.
I envy you and your haying abilities! I haven’t even mastered our tractor very well and there you are taking charge of bigger projects! I really do marvel at your ability to tackle just about anything Celi. You are a true inspiration!
Well done making that hard decision about a new dairy cow. I’m sure that was a hard one. I find that once the hard decision is made, I can move ahead with figuring out the next step.
Lots of decisions to be made on the farm…daily difficult ones I’m sure! There isn’t a post that goes by of yours that I’ve read and thought to myself, “She’s so strong and confident, all of that work, how does she do it!?” Always proud of you and I tell all my friends and family about you as if I’ve been right there watching your hard work and how amazing you are. Well done, Miss C. xoxo
I used to watch a UK show where teams got together and built machines out of scrap. On one episode they had farmers from the West Country (called the “Barley Pickers”), and instead of “well done”, they’d say, “now THAT’S a proper job!”. I loved that expression – thought I’d share.. 🙂
wonderful.. c
Mornin’ darling. LOVE my book, thank you.. 🙂
we should do recipes together!! ha ha .. c
I hope you got my emails – Pete laughed when I squealed with delight.. 🙂