My mailbox has had lots of fun this month, and while I can share some things later, I can’t put off sharing my “heart” mail any longer.  After all, talking about Valentine’s Day in March is pointless.

The image below is a handmade card I received from Diane, “Midteacher,” on swap-bot.  The card was designed for a “Valentine’s Day: Photo, Note, and a Quote” swap in the “A Thousand Words” group. Swappers had to share a photo and a quote that embraced the “Valentine’s Day” theme. They also had to include a note about the photo or anything else they wanted to talk about.

“Prickly Heart,” Photo by Diane aka “Midteacher”

How lucky Diane was to find heart-shaped cacti!  Diane shot the photo at the Ann Arbor Arboretum last year on her birthday, which happens to fall on February 15, the day after Valentine’s Day. How sweet!

I like the pink and green as well as the combination of elements–photo, fabric, netting, kraft cardstock, paint, and words.

The quote on the inside reads:

Love is friendship that has caught fire.  It is quiet understanding and mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving.  It is loyalty through good and bad times.  It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses.   –Ann Landers

Here are the other photos she included in the envelope–the original cactus and two others edited with iPhone apps.

What’s better than heart mail? Unexpected heart mail!

“Ace of Hearts,” by RR aka Beckra

I don’t usually receive V-Day mail, but I shouldn’t have been surprised to find a postcard from my faithful penfriend, Beckra.  Of course, I was indeed pleased to find her unique approach to the Valentine’s Day theme in my mailbox.  Trust me. This card is far more stunning in person.

February has been a tough month. I’ve spent more time sick than well this month, so I needed happy makers to provide buffers against the stress of navigating life while not feeling my best. It might seem like such a little thing, but finding thoughtful mail in the mailbox is good for the heart, soul, and body!