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!

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

EVERYONE…I’ve missed you.  I really have.  Things are fixed now.  Let’s get back to writing letters and spreading cheer, yes?

I’d like to thank Laura from Florida and Chloe from Australia for their courage, for their fearlessness, for their commitment to mailing kindness that is so strong that they braved the U.S. Postal Service shutting down my P.O. Box, charged forth, and like mavericks sent letters forth regardless.  They were the first two I received today.  You two sent my heart a flutter.  Thank you.

I have to admit to you guys that I’m a bit behind in sending out letters. You will have to be rather patient with me, but know that I will eventually get to you all.  I’m sorry!  They will be a little late.  But, I like to think that their tardiness makes them even more unexpectedly delicious…what do you think?

So, here’s the truth — my P.O. Box is lonely.  It needs some giggles, some good conversation, some hugs, some warm fuzzies…so, with that in mind, here’s the 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?

I can’t wait to receive these ones.  And I can’t wait to share them!  It feels good to be back.  It most certainly does.  

Emilie in Massachusetts recently responded to the following Question of the Week: Which day of the week do you think is the best day to receive a letter?  Why?

I loved how she decorated her envelope!  She found such a creative use for the material left over after you use up your stickers.  It’s so colorful and happy!  

Here is what she wrote:

May 24, 2012

Dear Lovely Handwritten Notes,

I really like your blog and the Question of the Week idea.

I think the best day of the week to receive mail is Monday. We’ve already suffered through Sunday when there’s not even a chance of getting mail.  It’s just too cruel to not get any on Monday too.  :)  Besides, most people go back to work or school on Monday and there’s nothing better to start off your week than a lovely letter!

My mail blog is: www.winniesgirl.blogspot.com.  I hope you have a lovely mail week!

From Emilie

You really can’t go wrong with a Monday letter.  She’s right.

I also encourage everyone to check out her mail blog!  It’s great!

Thanks for your response, Emilie!

My last Question of the Week (Yes, yes, I know you are all waiting for a new one.  I shall deliver soon!) asked, “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?”

Ryli in Wisconsin read this question, and then took her heart, put it on paper, and folded it safely into this soul-soaked enveloped.

In with the letter was a brown feather.  It’s like a little token that declares, “I am.”

What I loved the most about Ryli’s response to this question was that it was gritty and honest.  I was in a bit of a gritty, honest mood myself when I received it, so we made a nice pair.  I love when people can speak without fear.  Here is what Ryli wrote about where she is from:

June 18th, 2012 (Monday)

— 10 more days —

Hello,

I live in southern Wisconsin.  It’s a place most people know around here for trouble.  Sluts.  Sex.  Drugs.  Alcohol. Feels like a stuffy, overcrowded, but abandoned town in the summer, and the winter, everyone is family.  Smells like shit on the outskirts and fish by the river.  Just a normal town. The people.  Well, I’m 17 and going into my senior year.  It’s summer too. So, “my” people are bitches.  Only want you when you have something they need, either money, sex, and/or a car.  The nights are what most live for here.  On weekends, we get to cruise the strip.  A big racing spot in the middle of town, the biggest main road we have.  Usually we live for the trucks, from the new ones or the rusted.  The girls ride for the hicks and the guys ride to race and for the chicks.  It gets old, but it’s fun as hell. Janesville is a place of boredom.  Us high schoolers go to Walmart, the strip mall, or a park for fun in the damn hell hole.  

What I love most about it is that it’s a place for living with no regrets and living for the moment.  Don’t hesitate, just do it.  Once I grow up, I’ll move away and always have stories to tell about good ol’ Janesville.  And if there was anything I could change about it, is where it’s located on a map.  I sure as hell wish it was closer to Rochester, NY. My love and I met a year ago online, I’m finally meeting him in 10 days.  Flying there and staying at his house for 10 days. The day I fly, I will not be able to function.  We have a checklist to do:

• Niagara Falls
• Concert
• Star gazing
• Amusement park
• Hiking
• Park/picnic
• iPod switching
• Cuddle
• Etc.

Just to name a few!

But yeah, that’s my home.  Shitty, but it’s what I live for and now.

— R

Ryli, thank you for your honest response.  I hope you have a lovely and safe trip to New York!  I’ll be writing you soon.  :)

I’m still behind in my posts.  BUT…I did respond to eighteen requests for lovely handwritten notes this evening!

I look forward to flooding the postal system with art in the morning.  :)

Also, I know I skipped the Question of the Week on Wednesday…I’m sorry.  I vote we start fresh next week!

These lovely handwritten notes are coming in from all over the world. They’re coming from places I have been to and I places I have not.  They’re opening my world up to — the world!  I would love to share the uniqueness of where you live with the followers of this project.  Therefore, here is this week’s 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?

Please send your lovely handwritten response to:

Lovely Handwritten Notes

P.O. Box 2674

Washington, D.C. 20013

United States of America

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

I’m leaving town for my sweet California home for a while tomorrow, so I thank you in advance for your patience in regards to my responding to and posting your letters.  I’m also going to spend a little time getting caught up and posting the great responses I have received already from the comfort of my Golden State.  :)