The first block for the “Hearts for Charleston” quilt arrived yesterday from Sydney, Australia and will get its own post soon. For now let me just say, Mo‘s work is exquisite! It was incredibly moving to open up the envelope, read her words, and see the care she took constructing her square. Look at her delicate stitches and knots… look at the well-chosen dotted swatch, which references the nine victims and the nine patch. And all that indigo! Swoon. I know from what she told me that every knot and stitch was accompanied by prayer, and at times, tears.As for history, this morning the South Carolina House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to remove the Confederate flag from the Capitol grounds. I will add the date: July 9, 2015 to a timeline that’s been in the making for several years. There are huge holes in it, as the focus is the mid-eighteenth century, but this belongs on it.

The first thing I listened to this morning was the impassioned plea by Rep. Jenny Horne for swift resolution regarding removal of the Confederate flag. Among other things she said, “I have heard ENOUGH about heritage… I am a lifelong South Carolinian. I am descendant of Jefferson Davis. But it’s not about Jenny Horne. It’s about the people of South Carolina. And I have it on good authority… I do know that the world is watching this debate.” Emotion choked her up at times, but she never lost her fire. You can watch her speech here.