New Hampshire is a long way from the farm

Tika was born at Fox Creek Farm in West Virginia and by prior arrangement with her breeder, we picked her up in New Jersey and drove her home to New Hampshire. Dan and I left our house in NH at 7:00 am, Tika left Fox Creek at 6:00 am and we met at 11:45 am not far from the George Washington Bridge. Wow!

It was really delightful to meet her for the first time. She was very eager to be sprung from her crate after such a long car ride. Dan was the first to hold her and she was very wriggly, enthusiastic, and generous with licks to hands and face! We tried to walk her a little bit, but she was too overwhelmed by the event for a walk to be meaningful - so into the car to start the long ride home.

In the car, Dan and I gave Tika lots of attention. We spoke gently to her and played a bit an patted her thick, wavy coat. Regardless of this kindness and tenderness, Tika became understandably upset - where are my littermates? What are these new scents? Where am I? She began to whimper. The whimpers turned into cries and pretty soon she was howling pretty hard. Poor thing.

Here I must give Dan a lot of credit - he managed to hold her in his arms and stroke the top of her head in such a way that she calmed down and even started to doze. Securing Dan with a seatbelt in the back seat, holding Tika, I turned the car to the north.

We stopped a few times on the way home - to water and walk our new family member, and to replace the battery in the car. Surprise - car won't start! Thanks to speedy work by mechanics in Connecticut we were not delayed long.

At home in NH, Tika met the rest of the family. This is something new for all of us!