I’m going to try to catch up on posting your fabulous letters during the month of May, starting this evening of the last night in April—where does time fly away to so quickly?
Tonight’s letter comes from Oregon.
It’s a handwritten treat that arrived in my box in February complete with a fantastic wax seal.
The note was in cursive and so beautifully portrayed the movement of the hand.
February 20, 2013
My Dear Handwritten Note,
I hope this letter finds you in both excellent health & in excellent spirits. Valentine’s Day is by no means my most beloved of holidays. Mr. A is romantic when the mood strikes. This suits me quite well.
Do enjoy your handwritten note done on linen laid paper, written with walnut ink & a quill for a pen. This is how you might receive a letter in 1813.
Your servant in the wilds of Oregon Country,
Mrs. R. Azevedo
Oregon Regency Society
I loved the nostalgic taste of this letter—a fantastic tribute to the history of the handwritten note. Thanks, Mrs. A! I hope your spring is off to a fantastic start.
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!
A year ago, when spring began its tender arrival, I would ride my bike along the trail through the forest near my house. The trail ended at a lake, and there I would sit at the same picnic table each time, writing letters, beginning this project. Bringing new dreams to fruition. Sending bits of the love I knew to be important through handwritten notes, like this one below, while watching the lake come alive with people in rowboats and then transition to a meditative stillness as the sun blushed upon it.
That spring was one of magic in so many ways. It was a true rebirth, a blossoming of heart and soul and mind.
March 20, 2013 is the first day of spring this year.
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!)
Please send your lovely handwritten responses to:
Lovely Handwritten Notes
P.O. Box 2674
Washington, DC 20013
United States of America
If you’re new to the project and unsure what the Question of the Month is, start here.
Jerimi in Idaho made my whole day with this sweet little handmade Valentine!
Jerimi was responding to February’s Question of the Month:
Do you give out Valentine’s Day cards to people? Why or why not? Who do you give them to? Do you make them or buy them? How do you make the day special for you and your special people?
Jerimi wrote:
February 6, 2013
Dear Lovely Handwritten Notes,
First off, thank you for all you do! Your blog and postal efforts are both so kind. You have a generous spirit.
Second…question of the month! WHOO!
I do send Valentine’s Day cards. I make silly, overblown ones, with as much glitter as possible. Sometimes I invent obnoxious fictional people along the lines of Pepé Le Pew for the cards to be from. I think it’s fun. :)
I don’t actually do much to mark the day itself. I just think it’s fun to make and send the cards to friends and other loved ones. I don’t mind looking silly if it gets a smile from them.
Guess I’m a fool for love. Thanks again!
Best Wishes,
Jerimi
I’m a fool for love, too, Jerimi — thanks for sending me some via USPS! You certainly got a smile out of me, and it appears that we are partners in the Glitter Enthusiasts Club.
I hope everyone had a lovely Valentine’s Day! To steal a line from Jerimi, thanks for all that you all do to spread kindness to others. Be well! xoxo
Hello all! Happy February! I’ve decided to pick back up the Question of the Week idea, only make it a Question of the Month. I’m very excited to start receiving all of your thoughtful responses again. :)
If you’re wondering what the Question of the Month is and how it works, start here.
So, I kind of love Valentine’s Day. It’s sort of cute in a sickeningly sweet way. And it’s a great excuse to make the special people in your life handmade or handwritten loveliness. With this month of love and friendship in mind, here’s this month’s question:
Do you give out Valentine’s Day cards to people? Why or why not? Who do you give them to? Do you make them or buy them? How do you make the day special for you and your special people?
Please send your lovely handwritten responses (or Valentines! Hehe…) to:
Lovely Handwritten Notes
P.O. Box 2674
Washington, DC 20013
United States of America
I look forward to all of your handwritten love. <3
I really am. In fact, I’m so sorry that in order to show you just how sorry I am…here’s a photo of a postcard snuggling up to a cup of cocoa:
Isn’t it cozy and adorable? Am I forgiven?
It’s kind of crazy how quickly this life thing can sweep you off your feet. When did it become December? My to do list, both of the things that must be done and the endless things I’d love to do, is so lengthy. I feel quite lucky, honestly, to have such a lengthy list — for there is so very much in this life to explore. But, the point is, I’ve been a bit overwhelmed, and thus, Lovely Handwritten Notes kind of vanished. (And, here I was trying to tell people that it was easy to keep up with your letter writing…oops…) Ultimately, I’m super sorry. I still really like all of you, and you’ve totally been on my mind during this entire absence.
I logged on to check the project’s email tonight, and there was a nice handful of messages and addresses from new followers. Each request for a letter came with its own unique little message of hope and kindness. Each one reminded me so vividly of why I started this project in the first place.
Not to mention, I’ve received some of the most beautiful, thoughtful postcards, letters, and packages from around the world. They’ve brightened my day and I can’t wait to share them with all of you. And I will. But, you might have to be a little patient with me. I can’t keep up with the daily posts and I have a lot of letters left to send…so, here’s the plan!
I hereby commit to at least one new post every other week (with the hopes of doing one every week). In addition, I plan to send out one lovely handwritten note per day to those of you who request them. Therefore, it may take a little time, but rest assured — joy and cheer shall find you in your mailbox!
Sound good?
All of you lovely letter-writing souls are so great. You really are. Thank you for the constant reminders of why I adore this form of communication so very much.
xoxo
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.
