Melting snow and hearts
This winter was a stormy one. We have had cold winds, heavy snowfall, and icy slippery roads, and many hobbits have preferred to stay inside their burrows with a cup of hot tea and a good book. Now at last, the weather is changing: the sun climbs ever higher in the sky, melting away the ice and the snow, warming up the land, and encouraging some early flowers to sprout. The birds have already started their spring-time music festival, singing non-stop, to speed up spring. Not only the birds are eager to court – many lasses are dusting off their spring dresses, ready to bloom and make the lads swoon. Whereas the lads are looking out nervously from their windows, writing up some witty rhymes to recite in the presence of a hobbit lady, before getting cold feet and hiding in a bush when they actually see a lass approaching. Be as it may, in that same bush, there might be a nanny lurking who sees that the lad’s feet are not only cold but also dirty, and that he also needs a spring bath immediately.

Challenges with newspapers and signs
The new year brought new challenges for the local newspaper, The Bramblebury Gazette. For years, it has been the main source of information about Shire events and news for many hobbits. So when the newspaper deliveries suddenly stopped, or started to get very irregular, the locals started getting worried. Where will they get their news and gossip now? What if they miss a party, wedding banquet, or other news of hobbit interest? Folks were also wondering what was the cause of these troubles. According to some rumours, there was a biscuit stash inside the press that caused the machine malfunction. Now though, the issues seem to be sorted out. According to Peppy’s latest editorial, he has regained control of the press once more and things are returning back to normal. As it appears, a new lock had appeared in the door of the newspaper press, and Peppy had to order a new key for it. So The Gazette problems should be sorted out for now. However, the local Shirriff has also volunteered to take a look at the press at some point, with the help of her pickaxe which seems to be her universal tool for fixing anything. In the meantime, we can enjoy the newspaper again, along with its new bounder reports, lectures, and event posts. You might also soon read about one of the Shire homestead villages, Bartunnel, a fine hobbit home that will probably never run out of cider, thanks to Master Hermanniadoc’s Cidermill.

Of course, the Mayor himself has caused some trouble again for hobbits across the Shire. It seems that the vision of old Flourdumpling is diminishing, and he can’t read all scriptures, signs and other writings that well anymore. So he ordered new ones to be put up in place of the old ones. While some replacements seem to work well, the scaling of some road signs is a bit off. Some of them are so huge that they block the roads themselves, making it hard to move around in the Shire, while others are so small that you need a magnifying glass to find them. However, things seem to be working for the most part, even though it might require some time to get used to the new signage.

From hibernating to celebrating
After the cold and dark winter, many hobbits feel the urge to come out from their burrows, just like the creatures who have spent the chilly season in sweet slumber. Everywhere you go, expect to see hobbits out at parties, festivals, picking flowers, running away from their nannies and… seeking musical badgers, of course. Each year, the Brandy Badgers invites everyone to search for the mythical musical badgers that are rumoured to come out in spring and perform music together. In case they can’t find any, the band has prepared a spring-themed musical to entertain everyone. They have never been successful in finding any musical badgers, but we have gotten many fine badger musicals throughout the years, so it will be something to look forward to.

In addition to badgers, other critters will crawl out to enjoy the warm spring sun. Hedgehogs are one of them. Piewise, the nephew of Master Hermanniadoc, is very fond of these cute and spiky creatures (in addition to pies), and he is planning on giving a lecture about them sometime after the spring festival. Hedgehogs might not be as musical as the badgers, but they can be very versatile. Some are even known to have been recruited in pierate crews (which have sometimes ended in mutiny).

Music will be an essential part of many parties, for example on Bullroarer Took Day on 17th March. As per tradition, hobbits will gather in Brockenborings by the Bullroarer Statue to celebrate the legendary hero of the Battle of the Greenfields. It is time to dust off your greenest outfit, your Bullroarer song and poetry notes, and maybe even your bagpipes, so that you are ready to roar with other hobbits in the honour of Bandobras and other brave hobbits who defended the Shire a long time ago.

Things are looking green at the Green Dragon as well. On 13th March, things will get delicious as hobbits will gather to celebrate their favourite food and turn Friday into a Pieday. There will be plenty of pie-themed entertainment, and pies too, no doubt. Later in spring, we will celebrate the Green Dragon Fridays themselves, as the gathering turns 18 years old! Many things have changed, but the Friday inn evenings still attract hobbits (and some travelling dwarves) from week to week, thanks to the welcoming and friendly atmosphere where many feel at home.

In addition to the Green Dragon, there is also another inn: The Potato Inn. Or it will be, after it has been opened for all at the Opening Party on March 14th. According to the posts around the Shire, this event will certainly involve food, music and dancing. And if you get exhausted after partying, you could end up lying like a potato on a couch at some point. The inn is located on the borders of the Shire, in a village called Ravenmere.

As May approaches, we will soon get new May Royals. Queen Rosenbleume and King Saelo have worn their flower crowns with joy, and spread good cheer among hobbits at the many events they have organized. They are still planning something before their reign ends. The King would like to invite everyone to a costume gala, and Rosenbleume is still gathering folks by the Three Farthing Stone to inspire more songs and poetry for each season. In addition, she will throw a grand party, Queen’s Favourites. It will feature songs, lectures and other Queen’s favourites and will probably take place on 21st March in Songburrow. Soon after this, the elections for new May Royals begin. Any Shire hobbits who have not been elected yet can run for the May Queen or King title. It is an exciting and fun race, where you actually don’t have to run. You don’t have to do much – just provide your head to wear the crown, if you actually get elected. Then, it is up to you what you will do as a royal – you can do as much or little as you want to – just have fun with it! Just don’t let the spring-time shrews eat that blooming crown.

This spring issue marks the beginning of the fifth year of Shire Forecasts! I want to thank everyone for reading these seasonal posts, and a huge thank you to everyone who has provided content for them. Many thanks to Lina who takes her time to review the publication before it goes into print. Without her, the pictures might contain too much orange, the text might encourage folks to play more bagpipes, or even reveal some well guarded secrets of biscuit stashes. I wish you all an inspiring, fun, and piesome springtime in the Shire!

PS. King Saelo (who is working at the Smials library and gave a related lecture last year) says that the secret entrance to the Smials kitchen still remains uncovered. Whoever might find it will get free breakfast there everyday. Good luck searching! (And if you can’t find it, just visit the pie shop at 5 Chalk Road, Songburrow, for some comforting pies.)

((OOC: This is the seasonal Shire forecast where we aim to provide common pointers and ideas for hobbit roleplay in LOTRO. If you have ideas for upcoming issues, please contact Pycella (pycellawoodberry[a]gmail.com).))