Monthly Newsletter: August 2022 (No. 7)
This is the seventh newsletter and monthly feature highlighting events, happenings, and general news of all channels of Our Technicolor Life.
Welcome to Our Technicolor Life! We are a husband and wife team that lives a vintage lifestyle in full color through our many adventures in our tea room, travel, entertainment, and art. Follow along each channel that makes up Our Technicolor Life.
We are Jeff and Carrie Ketterman. During the day, Jeff is a General Manager with Kasgro Rail Corporation Management Division. With a fleet of over 500 heavy-duty cars, Jeff works daily to provide solutions to varies needs of the multi-dimensional rail transportation industry. By day, Carrie is a painter, illustrator, and author creating murals, portraits, prints, wearable art, and children's book illustrations.
After closing up shop for the day, Jeff and Carrie host themed tea parties out of their home at The Old Capitol Tea Room, travel to festivals and vacation in The Not So Long Trailer, and have two bands, a 1950s style band, Rosie & the Rockabillies and a 1920s style band, The Tin Pan Alley Cats. Each of these channels makes up Our Technicolor Life.
TEA July tea room events saw the return of some fan favorites as well as some new themes! We hosted our annual Pirates and Mermaids tea party hosted by Captain Hook and we added a new theme of Under the Sea Sing Along hosted by Ariel. We also introduced a new theme featuring everyone's favorite bad guys with a Villains Tea & Trivia hosted by Captain Hook and Cruella de Ville!
Towards the end of the month, we introduced another new theme to our sing along repertoire with a Moulin Rouge sing along tea party! Satine and Christian made an appearance singing such songs as "Sparking Diamond," "Come What May," "Elephant Love Medley," and of course "Lady Marmalade."
Our tea events are great excuses to play dress up and its so much fun to see and hear how much our guest love to dress up in theme. Speaking of dressing up, one of most common things we hear is how much guests love to dress up for our murder mystery events. They are usually themed by decade or a specific attired theme and you help play detective and help us solve the mystery. The next Murder Mystery will kick off our jam-packed holiday months of October - December and will be Friday September 30th. This mystery is a return of fan-favorite "Quoth the Raven, Nevermore" our tribute to the spooky season with an Edgar Allen Poe séance murder mystery. Tickets are on sale now for this murder mystery event.
The end of July always brings about a special celebration tea - Harry Potter's Birthday! July 31st is always Harry Potter Birthday Tea Party complete with a little Owls exam for all of the students attending. This event was hosted by Professor Dumbledore, Trelawney, McGonagall, and Hagrid.
In addition to themed tea events, we host private parties for groups of 10 or more weekday or weekends based on schedule availability. Our private parties are a great way to have the full tearoom experience with your family and friends. We frequently host bridal showers, baby showers, birthdays, book clubs, church meetings, appreciation celebrations, or just an excuse to play tea party with your own group. To schedule a private party, please fill out our private party form and we will check the schedule for availability. https://www.ourtechnicolorlife.com/privatepartybooking
The tearoom is closed the month of September. Our private party availability October - December is very limited on weekends with the public tea events on schedule, but we are happy to look into weekday or weeknight private party dates during October, November, & December months. Please note our peak season policy for private party bookings on weekends. During the months of October, November, and December we host the bulk of our main themed tea events making scheduling private parties a little tricky. If you are are interested in a private party during these months the cost is $30/person and the booking fee is $100. We often have two teas already scheduled on these weekends and adding a private party makes for a quick turnaround in preparation, set up, and tear down. We have a lot of events on the schedule for October, November, and December. Tickets tend to sell quickly so if you see one you would like to attend, don't delay, grab a table when the events go live. You can find all of our events on the Home page under Home to the drop down tab of Upcoming Events. Scroll each month to see what's on the calendar and click RSVP to see the full details and what tickets are available.
Find Upcoming Events Tutorial
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Upcoming Tea Parties: SOLD OUT Flower Power Sing Along Tea Friday August 12th at 7pm
SOLD OUT Breakfast at Tea-ffany's Tea
Sunday August 14th at 3pm
SOLD OUT Musical Monday Sound of Music Sing Along Tea Monday August 15th at 7pm
Private Party Booked at The Old Capitol Tea Room
Saturday August 20th
Private Party Booked at The Old Capitol Tea Room
Sunday August 21st
SOLD OUT Harry Potter Tea & Trivia Tuesday Tuesday August 23rd at 7pm
SOLD OUT Snow White Story Time Tea
Saturday August 27th at 3pm
Private Party Booked at The Old Capitol Tea Room
Sunday August 28th
Musical Monday TCT Taking Care of Tea Elvis Sing Along Monday August 29th at 7pm
Quoth the Raven, Nevermore Murder Mystery
Friday September 30th at 8pm
Ghost Walk - Details/Tickets TBA
Tuesday October 4th
SOLD OUT Beetlejuice Tea & Trivia
Sunday October 9th at 7pm
Sleepy Hollow Radio Show and Tea
Friday October 14th at 7pm
SOLD OUT Dracula Radio Show and Tea
Sunday October 16th at 7pm
Addams Family Tea & Trivia
Tuesday October 18th at 7pm
SOLD OUT Hocus Pocus Tea
Friday October 21st at 7pm
Private Party Booked at The Old Capitol Tea Room
Saturday October 22nd at 3pm
SOLD OUT Hocus Pocus Tea
Sunday October 23rd at 7pm
SOLD OUT Hocus Pocus Tea
Friday October 28th at 7pm
The Music That Helped Win the War
Tribute Show to WW2 Tea Party
Friday November 11th at 7pm
*55 minute show and tea party
Private Party Booked at The Old Capitol Tea Room
Sunday November 13th at 1pm
Murder Mystery - Details/Tickets TBA
Friday November 18th at 8pm
Polar Express Story Time
Friday November 25th at 7pm
Polar Express Story Time
Sunday November 27th at 7pm
Grinch Story Time
Friday December 2nd at 7pm
Grinch Story Time
Sunday December 4th at 7pm
Dickens Christmas Carol Radio Show & Tea
Friday December 9th at 7pm
Private Party Booked at The Old Capitol Tea Room
Saturday December 10th at 1pm
White Christmas Sing Along Tea
Sunday December 11th at 7pm
White Christmas Sing Along Tea
Friday December 16th at 7pm
*TEA ROOM CLOSED AFTER DECEMBER 16th THROUGH JANUARY & FEBRUARY.*
TRAVEL
Having just finished our patio in time for the festivities of July we celebrated big time with a fun and festive long holiday weekend. We played music with our rockabilly band, Rosie & the Rockabillies at the Popcorn Festival in downtown Corydon followed by family time with Jeff's extended family.
We traveled to the great town of Huntingburg, IN. to catch a Bombers baseball game at League Stadium (where several scenes from the movie "A League of Their Own" was filmed. We caught the new Elvis movie (it is fabulous)!! And, we enjoyed some time at the Old Fashioned Fourth Celebration in the Crescent Hill neighborhood of Louisville!
The summer wouldn't be complete without a trip to the sunflower field. Friends of the family have a beautiful farm a short ways away from us and they always plant a stunning field of sunflowers so we give you the 2022 Sunflower Field Photo Collection!
We caught a bit of a breather this July on our camping trip to the finger lakes area in upstate New York. This is a gorgeous area that we had never really had time to explore fully when passing through on previous trips. We made our return to Niagara Falls, third trip actually (I cannot get enough of that Maid of the Mist boat tour!) and ventured to Watkins Glen and then back through Jamestown. Our first leg of the trip started off a little bumpy as would prove to be a tell-tale sign down the road. We headed out for Mt. Gilead, Ohio and just within the first hour noticed an issue with one of our tires. The threads were showing and luckily we were able to catch it in time and put on a spare. Blessing in disguise, the tire shop we stopped at was near one of my favorite Hawaiian shaved ice stands so I took it as an occasion to turn some lemons into lemonade or shaved ice...you get it. The next day was spent exploring the great coastal town of Erie, Pennsylvania. We love lighthouses and we explored several in the beautiful Presque Isle State Park also known as the Jewel of Lake Erie.
Then we headed to Niagara Falls for a full day exploring the state park, a boat tour, lovely dinner at the Red Coach Inn, and light show at the end of the evening. We've seen Niagara twice from the US side and once from the Canadian side. Both are great in their own ways but I must say I love the feel of the falls on the US side. You can't fully appreciate the scoop unless you see them from the Canadian side but walking along side the flow of water and standing on top of the falls from the State Park is quite spectacular. Our last visit to the Falls was on the Canadian side and while the light show is more impressive from that angle, I loved the experience of seeing them from various points on the US side. It's a treat either way and if you've not been to the Falls, get there! And take a copy of "Niagara" starring Marilyn Monroe and Joseph Cotton with you for added viewing pleasure. It's a great thriller also starring the Falls themselves.
From Niagara we headed to Watkins Glen and the Seneca Lake area of New York. This is where that problematic tire really let loose...literally. Just about 8 miles from the campsite, the rear tire decided to come off. The tire AND rim completely sheared off the hub on the axle. Thankfully no one was hurt and that we were very close to the campground. It really could have been soo much worse so we are thankful someone was watching over us on this stretch of travel. It was also a bit miraculous when our camping neighbor, Garret, came to our aid once he saw us pull in. He was a great help in getting the hub off within just a few minutes and we were able to take the hub to a local repair shop and get everything fixed. It was an ordeal but thank goodness we had a couple of days at the beautiful Clute Park while we put the pieces back together.
Clute Park Campground was amazing! A walk across the street and we were in the lake where we went swimming, kayaking, and kite flying. We were also just a short walk into downtown and the Watkins Glen State Park where you can see 19 waterfalls on one trail! This is also wine country and around Seneca Lake alone is about 70 wineries. We've just got to make this stop a regular stopping point because we only made it to 7 of the 70 wineries.
Being lovers of classic movies, when we happened upon the Schooner True Love, featured in the Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Louis Armstrong "High Society" we had to look into a cruise. This was the actual boat they used in the movie and also the name of the boat in our other favorite classic, "Philadelphia Story". They offer various cruises and I treated us to one of the afternoon cruises for Jeff's birthday. It was incredible! A 2 hour excursion out on Seneca Lake plus they serve wine, champagne, or signature cocktail on board and only seat 20 guests so it was a delightful way to spend the afternoon. Being that I always like to dress for the occasion, the Captain insisted we have a photo op near the helm and recreate the photos of Grace and Bing which we happily agreed.
From Watkins Glen we made our way back down to Jamestown, home of Lucille Ball. As we are not able to make Lucy Fest this year due to other commitments, we wanted to visit for an afternoon and to spend some time in Chautauqua. The Chautauqua Institution is one of our favorite spots to visit and explore. We love to roam the streets, harbor, see all of the charming homes and cottages, explore the grounds, and dine at the Heirloom Restaurant in the Athenaeum Hotel. We spend Jeff's birthday in Chautauqua and lucked out on a great terrace table for two for dinner at the Heirloom and then pleasant surprise found out Jay Leno was performing stand up that night. We were able to enjoy a bit of his comedy as we strolled by the amphitheater.
Our last treat before heading home was finally getting to stop at world famous, Malabar Farm in Lucas, OH. Malabar Fam was the home of Pulitzer Prize winning author, Louis Bromfield. It was built in 1939 after Bromfield's bestseller, "The Rains Came" (1937), brought the author his first financial success. The "Big House" as Bromfield called it, would end up being a 32-room western-style homestead where he would write many of his books and entertain thousands of guests each year. It is also where Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall were married! We feel like we understand the connection and chemistry that Bogie and Bacall shared. We were pretty excited to stand in the very same spot that Bogie and Bacall stood when taking their vows at the grand staircase. The tour of the home and seeing all of Bromfield's belongings make this visit a true time capsule and well worth the stop. Our guide, Alana, was just spectacular and we cannot thank her enough for the Bogie & Bacall photo ops!
For a full account of our trip to the Finger Lakes, check out each day of our trip in the previous blog posts. There are a lot more photos too!
In July, we also found another Indiana festival to add to our calendar each year - the Firefly Festival in New Harmony! Everything about this just felt like summers of my childhood, and New Harmony is one of the most delightful small towns in the Hoosier state! You observe (not catch them) millions of fireflies in their mating ritual just after sundown. It is just so magical and fairy like! We didn't want to leave.
ENTERTAINMENT
It had been 15 years since the last Popcorn Festival in downtown Corydon, IN. and we are so excited that it has returned! Rosie & The Rockabillies participated in the full day of activities the Saturday of the event by doing a couple of sets on the main stage. There were all kinds of popcorn vendor booths, beer garden, festival queen coronation, car show, cornhole tournament, live music, food trucks, and a parade with one super cool popcorn cannon! The festival is all set to return at the beginning of July next year and trust us, you do not want to miss it!
We were set to perform for the Yew Dell Botanical Gardens Bourbon & Botanicals Summer Concert Series Thursday July 28th but the forecast did not look promising, so we'll be heading back that gig which is rescheduled for Thursday September 1st.
The Tin Pan Alley Cats returned to the Limbo for another round of live tunes at the Tiki Bar where we got to meet another wonderful group of folks that just happened to be traveling through. You never know who you're going to meet at the Limbo and it's always a little bit of six degrees of separation. We'll be back at the end of the month, August 31st.
ART
In an effort to get ahead for the holidays, I started taking Christmas orders. Christmas in July starts now! Order your custom hand painted gifts now from my shop, Maiden Kentucky! Now taking orders for pet ornaments, pet portraits (acrylic & watercolor), hand painted shoes, nesting dolls, peg dolls, & peg ornaments!
To place an order:
1. Email maiden.kentucky@gmail.com with your desired order. I’ll send an invoice (Square, Venmo, or PayPal). Payment must be submitted before your order can be processed.
2. If you want it SHIPPED to you, please note that when you submit your order. Your invoice will include shipping added to the listing price.
3. I have local pickup available in downtown Corydon.
Maiden Kentucky on Facebook, Etsy, Instagram and under ART at www.ourtechnicolorlife.com
Price List: Pet Ornaments $12/ornament (1 pet/ornament) Please include name(s) of let when you order.
Pet portraits 8x10 watercolor $30, 6x6 studio canvas acrylic $60, 8x10 canvas $60
Hand Painted Shoes range $50-100 depending on design & brand of shoes (Vans, Toms, & Off brand available)
Peg Dolls & Ornaments prices vary depending on various sets & sizes. Please ask for a certain set or custom set.
Nesting Dolls prices range $60-100 for various sets & designs. Please ask for a certain set or custom set.
Last Day to Order is Monday November 21st! Christmas is in 137 days and counting!
LIFESTYLE
Last Christmas while shopping at one of my favorite antique stores, Red Barn in Corydon, IN. I came across this vintage 1959 portable Philco TV. I bought if for Jeff as a Christmas present because I had never seen one before and the price seemed right for the condition according to some quick research online. While we couldn't get the picture tube to respond, Jeff had the brilliant to gut the inside and put in a flatscreen with HDMI connection. It gives us a TV to watch movies on outdoors while camping, and still maintains that mid-century vibe.
Thus concludes our July as we move into August in Our Technicolor Life! Please explore the website and share with friends & family! We try to make this website a one stop shop for all of our events. Don‘t forget to subscribe so you stay in the loop and check out our upcoming events section right on the home page! Yours truly, Carrie & Jeff
AT A GLANCE - August EVENTS Tuesday August 2nd 8pm The Office Tea & Trivia
Corydon, IN.
Friday August 5th 8-10pm Odon Old Settler's Day Festival featuring Rosie & the Rockabillies
Odon, IN.
Sunday August 7th at 7pm I Love Lucy Birthday Tea Party and Tribute Show
Corydon, IN.
Friday August 12th at 7pm Flower Power Tea Party
Corydon, IN
Sunday August 14th at 3pm Breakfast at Tea-ffany's Tea Party
Corydon, IN
Monday August 15th at 7pm Sound of Music Musical Monday
Corydon, IN.
Saturday August 20th Private Party
Corydon, IN
Sunday August 21st Private Party
Corydon, IN
SOLD OUT Tuesday August 23rd at 7pm Harry Potter Tea & Trivia Tuesday
Corydon, IN.
SOLD OUT Saturday August 27th at 3pm Snow White Story Time Tea
Corydon, IN.
Sunday August 28th Private Party
Corydon, IN.
Monday August 29th at 7pm Elvis Sing Along Tea Party
Corydon, IN.
Tin Pan Alley Cats Do the Limbo Wednesday August 31th 8-10pm The Limbo Tiki Lounge Louisville, KY SOLD OUT Rosie & the Rockabillies Bourbon & Botanicals Thursday September 1st Yew Dell Botanical Gardens