Right after Christmas, the kids and I went to PA to visit with my family. Various things have gone down recently which changed other plans so this was sort of a spur of the moment trip. Luckily, my brother and sister-in-law were able to make it too so we had a chance to just goof around together.
![Ring bologna!](https://i0.wp.com/myhomeamongthehills.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/12_30_2013-005.jpg?resize=168%2C300&ssl=1)
So we left WV on Friday morning and headed North. It was pleasant when we left here but as we approached Tionesta, PA, we found snow. Luckily it wasn’t on the roads but snow still sucks. Of course, in my misery, I felt the need for comfort food. Comfort food is a personal thing of course, but to me it meant ring bologna (on this trip at least). There is a local store that used to be sort of famous for their ring bologna. I stopped there before even going to my parents’ home. I swear they used to have rings just hanging from the rafters but I suppose sanitation concerns took over eventually. They still had bologna but it was sealed and in a refrigerated case. I don’t think any other part of the store had been cleaned since the last time I was there 25 years ago, but the bologna was good.
![Snowman time!](https://i0.wp.com/myhomeamongthehills.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/12_30_2013-030.jpg?resize=300%2C168&ssl=1)
![Teenager snowman](https://i0.wp.com/myhomeamongthehills.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/12_30_2013-037.jpg?resize=300%2C168&ssl=1)
Abigail and my SIL saw the snow as an opportunity so they headed out to build snowmen. There wasn’t a lot of snow but they worked with what they had. They made a snow turtle, a snow pig, a snow teenager(complete with smart phone) and a snowman. Definitely cool…but snow still sucks.
![Lunch!](https://i0.wp.com/myhomeamongthehills.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/12_30_2013-046.jpg?resize=168%2C300&ssl=1)
![It's science time!](https://i0.wp.com/myhomeamongthehills.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/12_30_2013-007.jpg?resize=168%2C300&ssl=1)
![It's science time!](https://i0.wp.com/myhomeamongthehills.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/12_30_2013-043.jpg?resize=225%2C300&ssl=1)
![Crazy elf!](https://i0.wp.com/myhomeamongthehills.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/12_30_2013-023.jpg?resize=168%2C300&ssl=1)
![Bad elf!](https://i0.wp.com/myhomeamongthehills.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/12_30_2013-021.jpg?resize=300%2C168&ssl=1)
We ate meat and cheese for lunch and opened some gifts. Abigail got a chemistry set from my brother, the chemist, so they did some experiments and no one got hurt. We ate more meat and cheese and drank a little beer…just a little. Then we acted like idiots. Well, we didn’t just start then but it became more apparent as the day went on. We had a pretty good time and I think I finally am recovered from eating all that ring bologna!
It was a great Christmas. Lots of food, fun and family all together.
Looks like a good time, even with the sucking snow. Bologna, cheese, and beer, food of the Gods. Who wouldn’t act silly after enough of that and good company.
Meat, cheese, snow and science? Sounds like a good day! Happy New Year to our favorite Weat Virginians!
WEST!!
We have one of those places too known for their ring bologna and I remember it hanging from long spikes stuck in the walls too. Now they have it on a stainless steel contraption in a refrigerated case.
My grandfather used to make me fried bologna sandwiches with them and upon reading this post, I realize I haven’t had one of those in probably 30 years! I think I will have to swing in the next time I’m by for some ring bologna and remedy that lapse in judgement.