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My Dear Neighbor,

 

It's winter in the Shire! A time for thick woolly cloaks, steaming mugs clasped in mittened hands, and toes wiggling before a crackling hearth. We Hobbits take great delight in the cold—so long as we can return to the comforts of home, a hearty meal, and a well-stocked pantry after our frosty adventures!

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But let us not forget the joys to be had beyond the fireside! There’s a special kind of magic in these late winter days, if you know where to look. Have you ever taken a sled to the hillside, letting out a whoop as you go whizzing down, faster than a startled fox? Or strolled through the snow as it crunches underfoot, the air crisp and bright, the very breath from your lips turning to mist like dragon smoke? And then there’s the hush that settles over the world after a fresh snowfall, as if all of Middle-earth has paused for a well-earned nap.

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Look about you, dear neighbor—there are wonders aplenty! The bare trees stand tall and proud against the cold blue sky, their branches weaving dark and tangled stories against the heavens. If you look closely, you might spy the tiny footprints of a mouse, her delicate tail etching a perfect line in the snow as she scurries about on some small but important business. And when the snowflakes begin to tumble once more from the sky, soft as whispers, catch one on your mitten and marvel at the fleeting beauty of it—a perfect gift from the season itself.

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So off you go, neighbor! Seek out the marvels of winter before they melt away into spring’s warm embrace. But do tread carefully—ice is as sly as a Baggins at a riddle contest, and a slip can send you sprawling faster than you can say ‘second breakfast’!

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With warmest regards, a belly full of good food, and dreams of spring to come,

Bill-Bob Baggins