#lovelyhandwrittennotes

I realize I missed the actual day, but that's obviously because I was too busy either gorging myself with candy or hiding from ghosts, witches, and the like.  However, I can't let this Halloween go by without sharing some of my favorite Halloween-themed postal love from this year.

For starters, I found this adorable pop-up card to mail to my mom:

And received another feline-themed one back from her:

And a couple of weeks back, I got this kindness-soaked wonderfulness from Lorraine in California:

Lorraine wrote:

Dear Lovely Handwritten Notes,

Happy Halloween!

Lorraine

P.S. I love your blog so much that I decided to get my own P.O. Box so I can start writing to pen pals.  :)

How great is that?!  I hope your P.O. Box gets filled up with lots of joy, Lorraine.

So, I'm not sure if you've read the news lately, but things in D.C. are a bit crazy right now.  However, amidst what has been a hectic week in the District, I decided to visit my P.O. Box today, and found a happy little note all the way from Italy awaiting me!  It reminded me that times like these are the greatest time to send someone a little postal cheer.  I was still glowing over my note as I walked past the National Mall and was greeted by this sign:

The note reads:

This is so very late, but I wanted to thank you for the lovely note you made me find in my mailbox.  It made my day, and it's still one of my favorite pieces of mail I've ever received. Wish you the best!

Don't worry, devoted followers of Lovely Handwritten Notes, Congress shall not stop our handwritten love from traveling the world over!

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

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

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.

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!

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.