Grace from Georgia also responded to March’s Question of the Month: 

What are your hopes for the spring?  What would you like to see blossom in your life or in the world?  Where will you find your spring magic? (If it’s transitioning to a different season where you live in the world—tell me about that!)

Her response came in this sweet little card:

Dear Lovely Handwritten Notes,

I’ve just gotten into this sending-mail-to-random-people-scene, and so you are the first one I’ve written!

Anyway, what are my hopes for spring?  I’ve not really thought about that.  I guess just doing well in class. (Yes, I am that boring of a person.)  I’m a junior in college though, so my efforts are much needed.

What would I like to see blossom?  Well…I just started dating this awesome guy (on Valentine’s Day, cliche, I know).  I really like him and I hope that our mutual attraction will grow into love.  I’m well on the way and I hope he is too.

Finally, my spring magic.  My birthday is in the spring, right when the angle of the sunlight is changing from the blue of winter to the gold of summer.  That is where I find my magic.

Finally, have sketch of my favorite place to sit in the spring.

Have a lovely day,

Grace

First of all, wanting to do well in class does not make you a boring person!  Higher education is a beautiful and exciting endeavor.  Congrats on all of your work, and I hope you finish the semester with a bang!  :)

Second, spring love is the best!  Thanks for sharing; it made me all warm and fuzzy inside to think of blossoming love.

Finally, I must agree that the change from winter to spring to summer—from blue to gold—is magic.  I love watching the sun slowly stick around longer and longer.

Thanks so much for your response, and happy spring!

The Question of the Month for March was:

What are your hopes for the spring?  What would you like to see blossom in your life or in the world?  Where will you find your spring magic? (If it’s transitioning to a different season where you live in the world—tell me about that!)

And it is possibly my most favorite Question of the Month ever.  I’m getting antsy for spring, growing ever impatient with the cold.  Your responses to the question make it feel like the sun can break through this year’s slow blooming season.

Janet from Utah’s response came in a simple brown envelope with purposeful penmanship.

And it only got more exciting as I opened it.

The paper was painted, stained, and glittered in all the right places with a welcoming green title declaring, “Spring Will Come.”

Janet responded:

March 10, 2013

Spring Will Come

I hope it’s a long spring.  Last summer was unreasonably hot.  For now, the mountains are still covered with snow and we are in a 50 degree heat wave (seems so after single digit days this winter).

Things to look forward to are; the SUN!, leaves on trees (none yet), flowers and trips to plant nurseries, going outside without a coat, farmers’ markets, art festivals, plein air painting, dog walks, bare feet, just to name a few!

The first day of spring is March 20.

I love handwritten notes!

Take care,

Janet

It’s the simple things that Janet mentions, like going outside without a coat, that make my heart happy for the change from winter to spring.

Thanks so much, Janet, for the thoughtful response—and enjoy your spring! :)

It may have been snowing today in D.C., but spring is officially here—and with it so many lovely handwritten notes to my P.O. Box!  Do you see yours in this pile?

Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be sharing these letters (and some remaining valentines—who says love ends after February?) on the blog, so stay tuned.  Also, a new Question of the Month coming your way soon!

With the level of organization taking place in my life right now, 2013 doesn’t even know what hit it.

Tonight, I’ve spent a great deal of time getting this project re-organized so that I don’t lose track of any of your lovely handwritten notes, and I know to whom I still need to respond.  The first step in this process involved paying a visit to The Container Store where I was able to pick up this beauty to store all of your letters in alphabetical wonderfulness:

After this, I created an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of names, addresses, whether or not I’ve responded, whether or not the letter was in response to a Question of the Week, if it has been posted on the blog, etc.

Outside of the project, I’ve become hooked on Google Calendar and Google Tasks.  I have sublists for my lists.  I have color-coded goodness.

Obsessive compulsive?  Maybe just a little.

But it’s for the best.  I’m fairly caught up on letter requests (I have 4 in my to-do list), and I’m ready to start doing biweekly posts where I share all of your loveliness again.  Also, I’m going to start posting a Question of the Month on the first of every month — so get prepared!

Dear 2013, let’s get organized!

Ok, so I got this package in the mail…

Which, I mean, look at it…it looks like a bundle of loving excitement! But, then I opened it to find this…

Which was even more exciting.  But, then, I opened that to find all of this…

And I was in postal heaven.  Louise in England, you are amazing!  Thanks so much!

The package also included a lovely response to a past Question of the Week: If you could have a few more hours in the day, what would you use them for?

• My craft room needs tidying up because there’s things all over the floor!
• Bleach the bathroom from ceiling to floor!
• Read some books on pregnancy — I’m 30 weeks pregnant!
• Clean & tidy the whole house ready for our little girl arriving in December =)
• Make some baby crafts
• Rest a little?!?!

Hehee xx

• Make some envelopes.  I’ve run out!

First of all, Louise, congratulations on your baby girl!!  I hope everything is going beautifully for you and your family.  Secondly, expect a little something in the mail soon, and more later!  Your package was truly lovely and put a big smile on my face.

Also, Louise has a fantastic blog, so definitely check it out!

A friend of mine has an amazing postcard collection she shares on her website.  You should probably check it out.  This link will take you to a particularly fun post celebrating the official start of the USPS back in 1789!

I think it’s time for a new question.  I’ve been keeping rather busy and, it seems, trying to fit more hours into a day than there actually are.  Too much push and not enough sleep meant that this girl ended up having to take a sick day today.

With that in mind…

If you could have a few more hours in the day, what would you use them for?

Right now, I’m thinking sleep, but, knowing myself and all these big dreams I have, I don’t see that actually playing out. ;)

Please send your lovely handwritten responses to:

Lovely Handwritten Notes

P.O. Box 2674

Washington, DC 20013

United States of America

If you’re wondering what the Question of the Week is and how it works, start here.

Another question that is always up for grabs is:

What is something just really nice (a story, a joke, a quote, something you’d just like to say, a drawing, really, anything you can think of…) that you’d like to send my P.O. Box to bring it back into the sunshine so that I may then share all of the lovely mementos it receives from around the world on this here website so that not only I, but many more can benefit from their warmth?

I look forward to receiving and sharing your letters.

It has been nice finally getting caught up on some of the lovely mail I’ve received over the past couple of months.  Life gets so busy, but I think it’s always important that we make sure to schedule in the time to do the things that just make us smile.  So, in between work, studying, volunteering, networking…I’m trying to get back into also just being creative, reaching out to those I love, and having a good time with this bright little life we all get the chance to live.

This letter arrived in my box back in June, and was in response to the following Question of the Week: Tell me about where you live or where you are from.  How does it look, feel, smell?  What are the people like?  What do you love about it?  Is there something you would change about it?

Wren had a wonderfully detailed response to this question.  Here is what she had to say:

June 15, 2012

Dear L.H.N.,

In response to “Tell me where you live or where you are from…”: Those are two different places; very different!  I live in the deep south where I enjoy the greenery and warm weather.  I am very cold-blooded and this prevents me from living where I grew up.

I was born in Connecticut, but moved to Rhode Island when I was about 2 years old.  My father’s family is from Rhode Island, and have been living there since around 1780.  I miss the formality of New England.  I think it’s nice to get out of the jeans and t-shirt and go out in a dress or a skirt and a blouse that actually has a collar!  Of course the fall foliage in New England is a highlight.  My most fond memories are of my birthday (late July) when it’s a comfortable 85 degrees (at last!), having steamers and lobster seaside.  The best time and place to be is at the ocean in September, just after all the “summer people” have left.  How does Rhode Island smell?  Salty!  Like low tide!  Sometimes there is too much dampness and you need to turn on the dehumidifier.  In the winter, the snow will come in January and maybe leave in March.  Look out the window and count the birds in the birdfeeder: cardinals, chickadees, blue jays, tufted titmouse — lots of nature in R.I. — chipmunks live in the stonewalls that the pilgrims built.  Rabbits and field mice are living in the backyard. You can see foxes, woodchucks and raccoons, too.

The people are quiet and reserved and dead honest.  If they don’t like you, they’ll look you in the eye and tell you so!  Nobody pretends to be friendly; not even salesmen. There’s no second-guessing, and I like that!

My thoughts about my first home; thanks for the opportunity!

Best Regards,

Wren

I think that was such a beautiful description.  I could see what Wren described and feel myself there in the different seasons.  Thank you so much for sharing with us where you grew up, Wren.  I love how letters can make me feel like I’ve traveled the whole world!

Each letter that arrives comes adorned in its own details of its journey. Different postal stickers, scribbles of writing, postmarks, stamps, and barcodes.

And, yes, those are hamster stamps!

And then you open up these journey-soaked envelopes and find an equally diverse array of beautiful handwritten love.

Pavla from the Czech Republic recently responded to the following Question of the Week: What is your idea for helping save the post office?  It can be silly, bizarre, serious, quantitative, qualitative, or all of the above! 

Here is what she said:

Anyway, you’ve asked about our ideas on how to save the post office.  Well, I don’t have any (not sensible ones), but perhaps offering kids or people some kind of a reward might do the trick.  Like, for each letter you send you’ll get a special sticker and when you have 50 or 100 of them, you’ll be rewarded with something.  Silly.  :)

I’m glad that everything’s fine again with your P.O. Box, and I’m looking forward to your next question.  :)

Take care,

Pavla

P.S. I’m sorry for those hamster stamps.

Pavla, the hamster stamps were fantastic.  And thanks a bunch for sharing your idea!

I recently received a response to this past Question of the Week: What is something just really nice (a story, a joke, a quote, something you’d just like to say, a drawing, really, anything you can think of…) that you’d like to send my P.O. Box to bring it back into the sunshine so that I may then share all of the lovely mementos it receives from around the world on this here website so that not only I, but many more can benefit from their warmth?

This writer chose to send a story, and it was so funny and made me so happy that I found my eyes all watered up with joy on the metro ride home that day.  (It actually comes from a pal of mine I miss dearly!)

I’m a sucker for sealed with a kiss.

Here’s her story:

8/10/12

Milady,

This handwritten note is in response to your Question of the Week Aug. 9 — “What is something just really nice that you’d like to send my P.O. Box?”

Here is my story.

Once upon a hot summer night in a land called Little Five Points, two young freedom fighters marched down Moreland Avenue on a quest to blow off some steam after a long day of waging peace, fighting disease, and building hope.  On their journey, they seized control of a yacht, battled a nasty case of hiccups, left numerous voicemail messages, and put a house up for sale. (One of these dainty flowers also ate her weight in breakfast foods.)  To this day no one can agree on whether they fought more disease, waged more peace or built more hope, but one thing is for sure — these 2 Kirboans had a hell of a morning.

With oh-so-much-love,

Nicki

I have so much love for this lady.  Thanks for the laughs down memory lane, my dear.