By Laura Stovel
Amble Inn owner Stephanie Ballendine opened her grand, historic home and bed and breakfast to Revelstoke women on Thursday to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a ‘Girlfriends Day Sweetheart Tea.’ “Not all women have a sweetheart on Valentine’s Day,” Ballendine explained. This is an event where they can celebrate with their female friends.
Women were treated to a tour of the mansion, which dates back to 1897, including the stately room where Prince Edward once stayed. Along the walls were Aboriginal pictures and artifacts, a nod to Ballendine’s Cree heritage. In the elegant living rooms downstairs, women browsed displays of make-up and jewellery.
In the dining room the visitors enjoyed tea and scones while they listened to Sharlene Foisy on guitar and Ballendine herself on piano play original songs by Foisy. Both women are in the band, Sister Girls. Victoria Carey also played piano.
This may be the last Valentine’s Day event at the Amble Inn for Ballendine. She has put the bed and breakfast up for sale and plans to travel around the world. After more than seven years at Amble Inn and 11 years in the bed and breakfast business she said she feels the need to “purge” and be footloose for a while. Her priority destination? South America, she said. Whatever adventure Ballendine undertakes next, it promises to be very interesting.
Here are a few photographs of the tea:
