Last Update on Terre d'Ange before Pennsic '08

We've received our land assignment and we're in E19! YESSS! Look for us there, somewhere near Casa Bardicci. We're hoping to be right next to the road.

Our tentative layout of the camp is with a fairly narrow entrance and the camp running long ways (towards the water). This will tie in well with our Secret-Garden-Hidden-Hideaway-Private-Oasis-Night-Blooming-Flowers-Lair theme. (Now you'll have to come see it in person. Made yah' look...)

For our schedule of events and more details about our camp, see our website: www.terredange.org

Come by and say hello! (The camp is closed mornings.)

~Christina/Veela

How I'm Getting to Pennsic OR The Great Pennsic ReLo Maneuver of '08

Hip, hip huzzah! I'm on my way to another Pennsic War! Next week I'll be boarding a plane and flying across the country to spend two and a half weeks camping with 13,000+ of my closest friends! I can hardly wait!

Since I had to get creative with my transportation plans this year, I wanted to share them (in case this helps anyone else). Because gas is so outrageously expensive these days, I decided to fly rather than drive. (It would have cost about $1500 round trip to drive, whilst my plane tickets are only $375.) Ok, one challenge solved, but how to get my gear there?

A friend recommended Jim Myer's storage (which is right outside the Pennsic campground). I decided to have my gear shipped out in advance and to store all duplicates in the storage when I'm done (so they'll be there next year). I bought most items from Amazon.com (they sell camping gear!!!) and had it shipped using Amazon Prime (which gave me free two-day shipping). I had it shipped directly to Jim's storage, where I'll pick it up once I'm in PA.

Next, I've arranged for help in carting the items from storage to camp and in setting up. My friend who is running our new camp with me will pick me up at the PA airport. We'll spend one night at a local hotel and the next night camped in the parking lot of Pennsic, ready for Land Grab Day. (My tent and bedding are already waiting at the storage unit.)

After Land Grab, we'll head over to storage to pick up everything else and bring it back to Pennsic to set up the camp. Once it's all over, the gear goes back to storage and I and my garb hop on a plane to head back to Las Vegas.

Oh, what we'll go through to "live the dream", lol. :) See the rest of you luckies at Pennsic next week!

~Wench Christina

P.S. Here's the number for Jim Myers Storage: (724) 924-9016 (Remember to tell him that Wench Christina sent you!)

Terre d'Ange New Camp at Pennsic 2008

This is a quick blog entry about our new camp at Pennsic 2008.

Camp Name: Terre d'Ange (It's French for "Land of Angel/s" or "Angel Land")

Camp Founders: Vkeva and Veela (Me)

Camp Theme: Our camp is inspired by the fantasy medieval novels of Jacqueline Carey ("Kushiel's Dart", etc.). When I say "inspired by", I mean that it is not an exact duplicate of her world. We've chosen some elements that we both liked and combined them in a way that works for a camp and looks medieval enough to maintain the aesthetic harmony at Pennsic. Obviously, it would be impossible to re-create every aspect of Ms. Carey's books. Over time, as our camp grows, we will add more locations from the books.

What's Important To Us: We're women and we're starting a camp run by women. Yes, we like men--a lot--but we're not men and we feel there's already plenty of warrior camps designed around males. Our camp is designed around females (ok, around very *girly* females). We want it pretty, comfortable, tidy, nice smelling, creative, and incorporating those creature comforts that delight us (such as in-camp hot showers, quiet mornings so we can sleep in, big tents for evening salons, afternoon teas, and gourmet dinners).

The Night Court: In our world, we are known as "The Night Blooming Flowers". The Realm of The Night Blooming Flowers is located (in the books) at "The Night Court". We like this, because we're flowers and we're night owls. Our plan is to stay up all night entertaining and sleep till noon every day (thus avoiding much of the heat and humidity and being most active when it's cooler out).

The Night Court is divided into 13 Houses (in the books); our camp, Terre d'Ange, will start with two. Each House has a theme and a Mistress In Charge. Think of it like a harbor where all the ships have female captains. Our first two "ships" will be run by Vkeva and Veela. (I'll include the themes and names later.) Each house will host different parties, salons, teas or gatherings throughout Pennsic. Both houses will host a big party together: "The Longest Night" (which is, in the book, held in Winter--probably Winter's Solstice--but that isn't possible at Pennsic, so we're using some creative license).

I should point out, that the Ladies of The Night Court (in the books) are technically Courtesans. However, in the world of Terre d'Ange, to be chosen to serve in The Night Court is a tremendous honor granted to only those most gifted (in beauty, intelligence and/or a particular skill or talent). Those who serve are highly trained in all the arts and are treated with great respect. (Men can also serve in the houses, btw.) There are many types of houses, and not all of the women who serve are submissive--courtesans are not to be confused with concubines, ahem. In our Terre d'Ange, we're Women who delight in socializing, entertaining, flirting and *portraying* Courtesans in public, and that's where the role ends. We expect to be treated with respect by every visitor to our Pennsic home.

Entertaining: Details on our scheduled salons and parties will be posted soon. Our plan is to host an afternoon tea daily at 4pm sharp; multiple evening salons (not raucous parties, but, rather pleasurable get-togethers that include dancing or live music, discussion, perhaps games, food, drink, and good conversation); and one large party ("The Longest Night"), which will be a masquerade. (Shirts required to all camp events. Good grooming is expected. )

Quiet Time: Our camp will be closed to visitors from 4am to 1pm daily. No callers will be admitted. All those camped with us will be expected to be *extremely quiet* during the hours of 4am to noon.

Meals: Our first meal will take place at approximately 12:30pm. (This will be "brunch" and is open only to camp members and invited guests.) Tea will be served daily at 4pm sharp and is open attendance (though the cook appreciates your advance notice when possible). To join us for tea, bring a treat to share or a tip to contribute and arrive on time. (Shirts required to all camp events. Good grooming is expected. ) Camp dinner is served at 7pm and is open only to camp members and invited guests. (Cook must be notified in advance of guests.)

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To learn more or inquire about camping with us: www.terredange.org or contact Veela at butterfly@wenchchristina.com (Note: I rarely check-in at tribe.net or myspace these days. Direct email is the fastest, best way to reach me.)

Rum, Fun, Night Blooming Flowers, Pennsic, & ECS--Oh My!

Hip! Hip! Huzzah! It's fair and war season once more!

Pfew! Time flies when you're having rum! I mean, *fun*! I mean--Wow! It's already time to plan for Pennsic 37 (2008)!

I had such an amazing time last year that I'll be going back again. This time I'm creating a new camp, with a gf I met there (Vkeva, Queen of Parties & Keeper of pet-slave-boys, lol).

The plan is to base the camp loosely on the novels by Jacqueline Carey. It is going to be a camp created by and run by *the wenches* (otherwise known as "the night-blooming flowers") and will cater to our creature comforts. (For instance, we'll have our own hot showers in-camp, a ladies-only lounge/powder room, and we'll sleep in till noon and stay up late entertaining.) Yes, men are invited too--we're wenches, we *love* men!--but our camp does not center around fighting or fighters and it's going to be beautiful, comfortable and clean. In other words, we're making it exactly the way *we* want it. (FYI, the camp's name is: Terre D'Ange. If you'd like to inquire about camping with us, drop me a note. As soon as I get our website up, I'll post the addy here.)

In other news...I've started playing with the ECS here in Vegas and I like them so much, I've just sent in my membership dues. Cool people. Fun and friendly. I'm planning to remain a member of the SCA, as well, and to keep attending SCA events, but the more Medieval/rennie/pirate friends, the better, as far as I'm concerned!

Finally...I've been busy adding more links to my primary website and I expect to have even more up soon. (www.wenchchristina.com) If you have a related site (for a fair, ren store, pirate shop, SCA war or group, etc.) and would like me to add it, please drop me a note from the site itself (I'm bad about checking tribe email). I even have a section for Pennsic related links, so send those along, too.

That's the news from Wench Land today! Time for more rum--I mean, *fun*!

~Wench Christina

I'm going to Pennsic!! Woohoo!

Pennsic 2007, here I come!!! I hope to meet some of my tribe acquaintances there. Find me and say hello!

I should be there from land grab day till around the 9th. Write and ask me where I'll be camped. Otherwise, look for me shopping, water bearing, or at the big parties. :)

See you there!!!

Latest News...

I have been a busy Ren Wench of late!

At the last minute, I decided to head off to Estrella by myself, since none of my Las Vegas ren friends could make it. I drove 6.5 hours and found the camp site just outside of Nowhere, Arizona. My next challenge: find the Vegas folks and secure a spot for my tent. (Turns out it was actually more difficult to find the Starkhafn group then it was get to the war itself, lol!)

Once there, the people were *amazing*!! Everyone was so friendly and helpful and fun! (I knew I liked "rennies" for a reason!) I had a great time and I highly recommend this event.

In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I came home and joined the SCA! Then I attended my first official Starkhafn event here in Vegas. The people there were also *amazing*! Friendly, helpful, informative and extremely social.

I am now making plans with several friends here in Vegas to travel out to some of the upcoming faires and festivals. I'm also planning to attend the SCA 40th in May!

Yo ho! Yo ho! A wench's life for me...!!! :)

~WenchChristina