The old ones say that the veil is thin at All Hallow’s Eve. Those who venture into the woods are often followed home by playful wee sprites! Join Kili to learn this whimsical autumn craft. All you need are some fallen leaves, paint, and a bit of imagination! These wee spirits make the perfect Halloween decorations to any hobbit hole.
Be sure to get your free printable copy of the craft instructions here and watch the Halloween special below.
Happy Hobbit has brought Middle-earth to its viewers’ daily lives since joining TheOneRing.net in 2012! Learn hobbity recipes, crafts, and more by watching new episodes and/or perusing the 14+ years worth of videos on their YouTube channel. 🌻 Be sure you are subscribed to Happy Hobbit on YouTube and check back here at TheOneRing.net so that you don’t miss out!
Get even more content focused on seasonal living in friendship with the earth by following Happy Hobbit on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok! If watching the show has left you with an appetite for more, know that Kili (Kellie) has a podcast where Tolkien is often mentioned called Forests, Folklore & Fantasy. She is also the co-author of the recently re-released Middle-earth from Script to Screen.
Nearly all of us Shire-folk (and likely every Ranger) love to forage in the autumn. Many of us have elderberries ripening in our woods but don’t know much about them. Join me to discover the many benefits of elder, explore the folklore and meet the legendary Elder Mother. Along the way, I will teach you how to correctly identify elderberries, test them for ripeness, and how to harvest them… without getting cursed!
J.R.R. Tolkien and I share a passion for mythology, folklore, and storytelling. While I cannot say for certain, it is highly probable that he would have been aware of this old British belief in a protective tree spirit. Connecting with his influences and sources of inspiration help me feel closer to Middle-earth, which is what Happy Hobbit is all about!
A note on elderberries: Correct identification and preparation are essential. Raw or improperly prepared elderberries and other parts of the plant can cause illness. Never eat unidentified wild berries. Use good hobbit sense – never forage from roadsides, places that could have been sprayed by chemicals, etc.
Happy Hobbit has brought Middle-earth to its viewers’ daily lives since joining TheOneRing.net in 2012! Learn hobbity recipes, crafts, and more by watching new episodes and/or perusing the 14+ years worth of videos on their YouTube channel. 🌻 Be sure you are subscribed to Happy Hobbit on YouTube and check back here at TheOneRing.net so that you don’t miss out!
Get even more content focused on seasonal living in friendship with the earth by following Happy Hobbit on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok! If watching the show has left you with an appetite for more, know that Kili (Kellie) has a podcast where Tolkien is often mentioned called Forests, Folklore & Fantasy. She is also the co-author of the recently re-released Middle-earth from Script to Screen.
You don’t need a round door or a house beneath a hill to bring a little of the Shire into your home! In this episode of Happy Hobbit, I’m sharing some of my favorite simple ways to make an ordinary home feel a little more hobbity:
dried leaves, sticks and acorns
well-loved belongings
baskets
candles
cozy corners
storybook creatures
enchanting artwork
whimsical crafts
More than anything, making your space more hobbity (or “hobbitcore”) is less about what you own or how you decorate. It’s about how the room makes you feel. But… pine cones. You definitely should decorate with some pine cones!
So grab your favorite beverage, get comfy, and enjoy this tour of my cozy abode! Prefer a more Elven look to your space? Then check out the episode An Elven Home here.
Happy Hobbit has brought Middle-earth to its viewers’ daily lives since joining TheOneRing.net in 2012! Learn hobbity recipes, crafts, and more by watching new episodes and/or perusing the 13+ years worth of videos on their YouTube channel. 🌻 Be sure you are subscribed to Happy Hobbit on YouTube and check back here at TheOneRing.net so that you don’t miss out!
Get even more slow-living hobbit content by following Happy Hobbit on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok! If watching the show has left you with an appetite for more, know that Kili (Kellie) has a podcast where Tolkien is often mentioned called Forests, Folklore & Fantasy. She is also the co-author of the recently re-released Middle-earth from Script to Screen.
It’s no secret that we hobbits enjoy “nice crispy bacon and fresh tomatoes!” (Just be sure to not get ash in the tomatoes). But other than that tried and true hobbit recipe, what is there to do with a glut of tomatoes? Unfortunately, they don’t keep for long while fresh. Freezing them is an option, but they take up a lot of space.
When I was blessed last month with several pounds of sauce tomatoes from my hobbit garden, I decided to make a tomato sauce and can it for longer-term preservation. There truly are few things more satisfying than pulling out a summery jar of homegrown tomato sauce from the pantry in the depths of winter. It also officially bestows upon one Shire bragging rights!
So grab a pipe or a mug of tea, put your feet up, and watch me do all the hard work in the latest episode of Happy Hobbit.
Happy Hobbit has brought Middle-earth to its viewers’ daily lives since joining TheOneRing.net in 2012! Learn hobbity recipes, crafts, and more by watching new episodes and/or perusing the 13+ years worth of videos on their YouTube channel. 🌻 Be sure you are subscribed to Happy Hobbit on YouTube and check back here at TheOneRing.net so that you don’t miss out!
Get even more slow-living hobbit content by following Happy Hobbit on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok! If watching the show has left you with an appetite for more, know that Kili (Kellie) has a podcast where Tolkien is often mentioned called Forests, Folklore & Fantasy. She is also the co-author of the recently re-released Middle-earth from Script to Screen.
Since all hobbits are drawn to the green world, many of us feel a tinge of sadness as autumn creeps in and slowly steals away our beloved wildflowers, vegetables, and green tree leaves. But what if there was a simple way to preserve some of those bright summer hues to enjoy all year long?
As summer in the Shire winds down, now is an excellent time to try your hand at pressing flowers! You can use the dried petals, leaves, and whole blossoms to create endless crafts, from bookmarks to candle decor. Join Kili as she guides you through selecting blooms in this new episode of Happy Hobbit. She then shows how to assemble the flower press and reveals the finished results.
Have you ever pressed flowers before? Did you use a press or a book? How did it turn out? Let us know in the comments on the video!
Happy Hobbit has brought Middle-earth to its viewers’ daily lives since joining TheOneRing.net in 2012! Learn hobbity recipes, crafts, and more by watching new episodes and/or perusing the 13+ years worth of videos on their YouTube channel. 🌻 Be sure you are subscribed to Happy Hobbit on YouTube and check back here at TheOneRing.net so that you don’t miss out!
Get even more slow-living hobbit content by following Happy Hobbit on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok! If watching the show has left you with an appetite for more, know that Kili (Kellie) has a podcast where Tolkien is often mentioned called Forests, Folklore & Fantasy. She is also the co-author of the recently re-released Middle-earth from Script to Screen.
The scent of Sweet Annie is is a blend of herbal greens, subtle spice, and something reminiscent of the pages of a dusty old tome. I imagine it’s the type of plant hobbit women have long grown, dried, and tucked into their drawers as sachets to scent their clothing. It is also excellent as part of a dried flower arrangement or wreath. If these ideas have tempted you but you fear you don’t have a green thumb, then let me reassure you: Sweet Annie is a hardy, carefree annual that is very easy to grow!
Just a small container has abundant uses all year long. Join me in the video below as I grow Sweet Annie (Artemisia annua) from seed, harvest fragrant bundles at the end of summer, and dry them for the autumn hobbit hole. I’ll share tips for planting, caring for Sweet Annie, harvesting at the right time, drying stems, and a bit about my health journey last year (2025).
Click on the video below to watch, and keep scrolling for a growing guide! For a printer-friendly PDF version, click here.
Sweet Annie Growing Guide
Just a small container of this easy-to-grow annual has abundant uses all year long. For reference, I started mine in May and I live in USDA gardening zone 9 (or 7 depending on where I am planting).
Sowing
Prepare a container or garden bed in an area that will get full sun exposure. There is no real need to add amendments to the soil as Sweet Annie is hardy and not super hungry.
Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost date or
Start outside after all danger of frost has passed.
The seeds need light to germinate, so even the surface of the soil then scatter them on top.
Water in the seeds and place a mesh protector over if desired.
Growing
Full sun
Well-drained soil
Germination time: 10-20 days (but I saw some growth at day 5!)
Space 18–24 inches apart (thin seedlings when they are 3-4 inches tall). I obviously didn’t do this.
Harvesting
Cut stems just as the little yellow flower buds are starting to open. For me, this was in August.
Gather the stems and arrange in small bundles
Drying
Hang upside down in a warm, airy place
Keep out of direct sunlight
Uses
Fragrant dried bouquets
Wreaths and garlands
Sachets for your drawers
Tucked into cupboards and seasonal displays
Yuletide gifts!
Happy Hobbit has brought Middle-earth to its viewers’ daily lives since joining TheOneRing.net in 2012! Learn hobbity recipes, crafts, and more by watching new episodes and/or perusing the 13+ years worth of videos on their YouTube channel. 🌻 Be sure you are subscribed to Happy Hobbit on YouTube and check back here at TheOneRing.net so that you don’t miss out!
Get even more slow-living hobbit content by following Happy Hobbit on Instagram,Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok! If watching the show has left you with an appetite for more, know that Kili (Kellie) has a podcast where Tolkien is often mentioned called Forests, Folklore & Fantasy. She is also the co-author of the recently re-released Middle-earth from Script to Screen.
