The Simple Woman's Daybook 12/29/2008

For today: December 29, 2008

Outside my window: the sun has not come up...all is quiet and even the sound of traffic on the highway is muted. I am waiting for the first sounds of the wren to stir and let me know that sunlight is coming.

I am thinking: that it's just not fair to have the flu over Christmas.

I am thankful for: fingers...achy or not, they still type and crochet, spin and weave...whatever they are called upon to do. And for flu shots...when you get the flu anyway at least it's not so bad.

From the kitchen: has come very little for the past week or so. Perhaps today some time can be spent cooking.

I am wearing: my favorite green "house coat" ...as my grandmother would say. When did house coat become "robe"...???

I am reading: the news online and trying to follow the new law they have passed in an effort to keep children's toys safe...while inadvertently making it illegal to sell any hand made baby things without an enormous amount of money spent on individual testing...putting many small businesses and cottage industries out of business...sigh The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008

I am hoping: that the Congress will come up with a compromise to their plan ....

I am creating: only make-work projects at the moment. Nothing that is really planned is in the works ... mostly I need to organize and categorize... finish dyeing some of the threads needed to work on one of the projects.

Around the house: we are loving the new tile floors. Spilling drops of coffee on the sleepy early morning run from kitchen to office is not nearly such a big thing.

One of my favorite things: is sitting here next my DH each morning with our coffee and our computers...quietly checking out the news and starting another new day.

I am hearing: the beep, beep as my DH heats his cup of coffee in the microwave.

Around the house: rearrange and organize after having tile laid on the living room, office and hall floors. But must stop with the cough and yuks first...flu is not good...

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Is It The Flu?

This was the main part of our Christmas this year... DH came down with it first about 4 days ago and then yesterday mine really made itself felt. Needless to say, we are disappointed that the son that has just moved to Arizona could not come by while he is back home packing up...but like he said..."I really don't think I would like a spiking fever about Alamagordo.." He is going back today with a U Haul filled with the rest of their furniture.

The meadow looks barren and dreary with the leaves all gone. It was a nice 50+ degree day yesterday and is supposed to be again today. The sun did not come out all day, just remained on the cloudy side.

On a "sweeter" note..grin This tin was packed full of wonderful sugar cookies when it arrived a few days ago. Christmas package from son and DDIL in Michigan. We kept telling ourselves we really shouldn't eat these sweets... hmmm... looks like it really worked, doesn't it? ...lol

Merry Christmas!

A Pot of Veggie Beef Stew

It's cold outside. This is our first really cold snap of the year. This picture was taken at almost noon and it hasn't even reached 30 degrees yet!

This started yesterday with the north wind biting through our clothes. Coming home from coffee we noticed small drops of rain on the windshield and by the time we reached the area near our house, the car began to slide a bit as we crossed the overpass. Traffic had slowed to about 30 mph.

This morning the schools are closed. It will not reach above 32 degrees all day.... according to the local weather channel. This seemed the perfect day for good old-fashioned vegetable beef soup and a big pot of cornbread.

It's a little down day... son-in-law and his mom left yesterday with the first load of furniture for the new home in Arizona. (A little jealousy here...warm, warm, warm down there...lol )

Newsletter, Echocardiogram, Silk/Bamboo

There have been many ups and downs with the newsletter during the last year. We handed it over to someone else to do and for one reason or another, it did not get done.... so we are once again doing it. It will be in the mail this afternoon. This is a good thing...really wanted everyone to have theirs before Christmas. Our mailing list is now around 550, but with none sent out in a year, we are expecting quite a few to be returned as undeliverable as people move and don't send in new addresses.

Went for echocardiogram yesterday. It took quite a while, but not nearly as long as I was expecting it to take...lol (Didn't have to see the doctor!) My cardiologist has one of those doctor's offices where you make sure you have enough knitting/crocheting/nalbinding supplies with you to last for several hours.... you will need them. My DH has finally learned to take his own book with him...after he had read all of the magazines in the place at least twice in one visit. Go again next week for chemical stress test.

Made a trip to Durant, OK for some supplies and while there stopped at Ozark Mills. I got some silk roving and some bamboo roving. It's amazing the difference between spinning the silk/bamboo and spinning wool. The white in the pic to the left is the silk. The beautiful fuchsia/purple colorway below is the bamboo.

Sorry for the Lack of Posts

It's been a really busy week...go, go, go... Will say hello this morning with a couple of things...

First and foremost... our new granddaughter Hannah.... Is she not lovely?...








And second...what I have been working on in the evenings...home spun, dyed and woven..then sewn and embroidered needlebooks....

I have just been reminded that I have to be at the dentist in 40 minutes...lol ... (Does your DH do that too?...) Will try to blog more later and catch up on my Simple Woman's Daybook!

We Had A Wonderful Time!

We had a wonderful time! Thank you, Bev!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

I know this is not Monday... but since I missed it yesterday...

Today: November 25, 2008

Outside my window: the sun is low in the west and too bright to leave the shades open. It will be dark in an hour and a half... too soon for this day to be over.

I am thinking: how tired my legs feel after spending all afternoon out and about. I wish DH's coffee drinking buddy were not moving. It is a sad day. On the other hand...it is wonderful that we live in the age of computers and they can stay in touch even from one country to another.

I am thankful: that my clothes that I am planning to wear Thanksgiving still fit! I am also thankful that it will be a year (in about a week) since I have had one cigarette. I am not thankful that I have gained 40 pounds! But I would not exchange the 40 pounds to go back to smoking...it is completely worth it.

From the kitchen: the cranberries and orange are calling! I love fresh cranberry sauce and always make it ...

I am wearing: stretch denim pants with a cotton blue/white shirt...but not for long...lol It's almost time to get comfortable...

I am creating: very little today. Perhaps after supper....

I am going: to start preparing for Thanksgiving with our daughter. This is a real treat since we seldom get to do this!

I am reading: every pattern on Ravelry I can find. And it seems there are so many I will never run out!

I am hoping: to put our tree up the day after Thanksgiving. It should not be too hard this year since it is all stored at ground level...instead of in the attic!

I am hearing: my DH yawn as he settles in his chair..it has been a long day.

Around the house: everything is quiet. I can hear the pulse ringing in my ears. It's very easy to just sink into my chair and relax.

One of my favorite things:

is this picture. It always makes my legs feel that warm swish from standing on the floor furnace. It was so fascinating to watch my dress mysteriously fluff out and just stay there! I did this all the time as a child and can still hear the words... "You're going to burn a hole in your shoes!"

A few plans for the rest of the week: include Thanksgiving...such fun. Then the Christmas tree... also fun.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing:

Fair Isle Hat...Finished

It's done. It's not been blocked yet. I'm amazed. And speechless.

Fair Isle and Water Heaters

Well, I am beginning to think I will survive..lol It seems to take a little longer to get over things than it used to... wonder why that is...lol

That luscious Merino Lamb that I have been spinning has seriously been calling my name. So has the idea of Fair Isle knitting. So ... since I had all three of these colors spun up... I decided to give it a try.

This is going to be a toboggan cap when it is finished. Go here... Knitting Nonni .. and you will see where the inspiration comes from. I keep telling myself that someday I will be able to do that...lol

Yesterday was quite eventful... in a quiet kind of way. Our finances went out the window..lol Can you guess why?

It's hard to see in this picture, but there is water in the pan... the hot water heater is leaking. So ... did you know that for only $700+ you can replace yours too?!!! And this is only one of them. Thank goodness the one in the house is still going.

Ask Me How I Feel Today...

Today I feel like I have been run over by a truck...

Yesterday was spent sitting in a room at the allergists office from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm and getting shots every 1/2 hour until 12 and then every hour until 2... This is called a Rush. This is supposed to be worth 6 months of weekly allergy shots if you go every week.






The pic above is of the left arm. Ten shots in this one. The one on the right is of the right arm. This is the very last shot... only one on this arm. I sure am glad I chose not to put that one on the left arm too...lol


He also found that I have a sinus infection...boooo. Anyway, I had no idea I would feel this badly the day after!


The thing is that I spent the day knitting on DH's socks, my Falling Waters Scarf, spinning with the hand spindle trying to make enough singles to dye different colors for embroidery on my Nine Patch Hand Woven... I had plenty to do.....


Off to spend the day in my chair... Tomorrow will definitely be better...

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Today: November 10, 2008

Outside my window... the intermittent rain is leaving brilliant glimmers on the fence. It's overcast and a bit dull today, so the glitter of the rain is a lovely highpoint. It's brought just a hint of green back to the brown grass of the yard.

I am thinking...that it would be very nice to have a few knitting books to look at and study. I think I might get very into knitting as I grow more comfortable with the stitches and how to correct mistakes, so I have been surfing through the knitting books at Amazon.

I am thankful....that it really doesn't matter too much that my desk calendar is still set to May 2008...

From the kitchen...was the wonderful aroma of a ham cooking yesterday. Today...it made a wonderful breakfast.

I am wearing... the same ugly housedress I was wearing last week...lol Having been laundered in between times, of course...lol I really will dress today but for now, this is great.

I am creating...more thread on my spindle to be dyed for embroidery on the handwoven wall hanging I am working on. You can see it here.

I am going...to the library later today...probably when DH goes to coffee this afternoon. I will be looking for Elizabeth Zimmerman knitting books and some rigid heddle loom books.

I am reading...Halcyon Yarn's catalog looking for threads that are good for weaving fabric. My daughter has decided that we need to have our own family plaid...as in Scottish plaid...only we are Irish..hmmm

I am hoping...to complete the tutorial for spindling that I took pictures for last week. Finding the time to put everything into booklet form has been less easy than I thought.

I am hearing...the Westminster chimes of the clock that DH finished making a few weeks ago. Since we now have 4 that chime..lol... one gets to hear several different songs thru the day.

Around the house...the chair still needs to be de-stashed. ... sigh...

One of my favorite things...

is this fan that I've had since the 2004 Ranger Reunion in Fort Myers, FL. Several of us girls were walking the flea market where Karen and Earl had their shop and it was sooo very hot that day. Even the misters that would spray a soft water mist on you as you walked by didn't help. Finally Marilyn...a lovely lady from Washington State...bought all of us one of these and what a life saver they turned out to be. Every time I see it I think of what a sweet person she is... and I keep it in a pencil holder on my desk..it's used almost every day...

A few plans for the rest of the week... include working on the wall hanging, spindling more thread, making appointment for carpet shampooing.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing... to see if you can guess why I am hyperventilating...lol

"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it's time to pause and reflect."

Mark Twain

Up Early

While I was sitting here reading my mail and just surfing through the news, I noticed the light coming in the glass of the front door. It's been a long time since I have stood and watched sunrise. So today I did...

Sunrise... a new beginning every day...

Purpose for today...

'My purpose is to __________ today. I am thankful for______________'

This is a much harder fill-in-the-blank than I thought it would be. This is one sentence of an email that my aunt sent to me and I thought it would be a good thing to fill in each day...you know...kinda "get off on the right foot" kind of thing... phew... I don't think I have ever just sat down and thought.. "OK, what is my purpose for today?" lol...you'd think I could come up with something!

However, I am terribly thankful that the election is over. I am still concerned about the welfare of the nation as a whole... but perhaps new blood is what is needed in Washington. We shall see.

We went to town yesterday and shopped in a few shops. Christmas decorations are already out and you know what that means... Time to start counting the days. I think the holiday season has become very commercialized, but I nevertheless enjoy the fact that families get together...and if not for the holidays, this may not happen so frequently. Besides... I love to give gifts..lol

Daylight savings time has ended and this picture is our meadow at 5:45 pm these days. The autumn winds have almost blown all the redbud's leaves away and the meadow grass has turned brown. The days are cooler and last night ..for the first time...we were too cool with only the one quilt and our sheet for cover. I am seriously considering making a king size quilt...a first for me. We'll see if that works out... ;o)

Today's The Day

Well, today is the day. DH and I did the early voting thing last Friday and I'm glad that is done. If you have read my blog very much you will already know that I am a fiscal Republican with a few social leftist leanings ... if that makes any sense.

It's true that this is a historic election for the United States. I just hope that people will cast their ballots for what they believe is the best thing for the country and not for the color of someone's skin or the gender of the person running.

But then... I'm not holding my breath. And I do understand. Women on the ticket...any ticket...would have been unthinkable in my younger years... as would any person of color. Like I said...it's historic.

But then, so are the several crises facing this country. And if you want to know the truth...I'm not sure there is enough experience among all of them to really do the job.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Peggy, of The Simple Woman, has set up this Monday morning meme that is being participated in by many in blogdom. I found it over at Apron Strings and Other Ties That Bind and fell in love it.

TODAY ... November 3, 2008

Outside my window... the sunshine breaking through the trees is casting a lovely highlight on the three large trunks of the pin oak tree in the meadow. I am reminded that we have not been across the bridge in a long while and am wondering if the pear tree on the other side has any pears.

I am thinking ... that yesterday's Sunday dinner with DSIL, his mom, and the grandsons made for a very good day. There is nothing so sweet as the smell of loved ones when the hello hugs happening... the shampoo, soap, cologne smells... memories in themselves.

I am thankful ...that I am no longer in home economics... all that looking over my shoulder while I am trying to learn to knit would drive me nuts... ;o)

From the kitchen ...the coffee pot is empty. yuk.

I am wearing... my very loose fitting blue housedress. Ugly...but one of my favorites. I am definitely old enough now that comfort can come before style and I cannot be bothered with it..lol

I am creating... only a small headache as I try to finish the knitted socks for DH. Finished one .. it, like many others I have made, is too short even though I thought I had followed the directions to the letter. This time I will rely on my own observations and forget the directions...

I am going...to be cooking breakfast in a little bit. I would tell you what, but the fact is there is no bacon..sigh.. so have no clue what it will be until I am standing in front of the cabinet.

I am reading... for the 3rd or 4th time.. Hour Game.. by David Baldacci.

I am hoping...to have enough time today to work on some instructions for a spindling class I will be teaching at the museum next year.

I am hearing... the click of the mouse and pages coming up on my DH's pc that sits next to mine.

Around the house...I am wanting to de-stash around my chair. It seems that before I can whistle Dixie I have loaded pounds of wool, yarn, cloth, projects, needles, etc...around my chair until I cannot sit there without feeling guilty that at least some of it is not finished. Which is intrinsically unfair... There are many finished and moved...and something else is stashed there in it's place..phew

One of my favorite things...

This is a tiny creamer that is used for my coffee each morning. It was a gift from DS and DDIL a few years ago. Perfect for one person's coffee.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: include working on the spindling presentation and lessons, finishing the socks and scarf that are now on the knitting needles.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Breezy, Blustery Day

Fall has arrived... The trees are now that non-descript cross between brown and dirt colors with a little pear yellow here and there. The leaves are piling in the yard in between mowings and the sun is shining. Temps remain in the high 80's most of the time with a few cooler days. While I am looking forward to the cooler weather I am not a fan of the drabness of autumn and winter in this part of the country. Or maybe I'm just in a mood today... ;o)

The breeze today makes it a really good day to wash and dry the woven scarf and the finished yarns of the past few weeks. These yarns have not been dyed and I'm in love with warm natural colors .. the lightest being mixed wool, the darkest warm brown is Merino Lamb and the honey color is a mix of Romney/Merino. I'm in a hurry for these to dry since I can just see them mixed together in a pattern on my loom and making warm scarves.

Surprise!

We came home from running around town a couple of days ago and found that one of our daughters had called several times. After we unloaded groceries and put them away, DH sat down in his chair and returned the call. She answered almost immediately and I heard him say "Well, where are you?". Then I saw him getting out of his chair saying "At our front door?!!"... lol Talk about a surprise! She and her husband could only stay a couple of hours, but what a good surprise that was!

Saturday the clock was finished! DH tried to change the movement to one that bonged a different sound, but the movement he bought for it just didn't work. He wound up putting the original one back in, but we love it anyway. Each one seems to be getting just that much better. He already has the next one picked out. ;o)

Will the Last True Newspaper Man Please Stand Up

In this election year, this is a must read for everyone...

Will the Last ....

Maybe 3rd Time is Charm

Blogger seems to have the hiccups these days... This post was written twice yesterday and both times it just disappeared into cyberspace and then Blogger wouldn't come up again to re-write... so it was just not meant for me to post yesterday...lol

I am really wishing that I had taken the time years ago to practice and work with knitting more. Knitting has a much better feel than crochet and is not any harder to do once a person is comfortable with the main stitches.

The feather and fan is a pattern that has long been one of my favorites...even if I didn't know it had a name...lol I think I finally have it down... I went to Hobby Lobby yesterday and bought slightly larger needles and some soft yarn to make this scarf.

Jackie at Heart Strings Fiber Arts.com has a feather and fan pattern baby blanket pattern that is gorgeous. I will make that next and change the size yarn and needle to larger...making it an afghan.

Just in case you didn't know, there is a give away in progress over on Fabric Follies Two... as a way of saying "Thank you!" for the 300,000+ hits that have come that way in the last 22 months. Pop over and say hello...

Pansy Purse

One of the first projects done when my Harp loom arrived was to weave some of the green handspun that was in the stash basket. I didn't weave very much of it...about 18" x 24". It's been waiting in my workroom for me to get around to making this purse out of it... Well, today was the day.

A pattern wasn't used, but here is a site that will give you basic instructions for the way I did it..

Placemat Purse Instructions.

It's been very warm today...sunshiny through the office windows. Had to close them to keep the heat out of the house. I don't know if it really is so, but it sure seems to be warmer today than it has been for the last couple of days.

Saturday Craft Day at the Museum

Today was Craft Saturday at the Red River Historical Museum. This was my second time to go and it's fun each time. Today we painted these precious Christmas spoons that can be hung on the tree or used in any decorations you want. Aren't they adorable! I am terrible with names or I would tell you who the instructor was..lol I know her first name was Debbie and she was great.

Mammograms & Lace Knitting

I grabbed my knitting as I raced out the door to my follow up mammogram appt. only to realize after I got there that the pattern was still sitting on the arm of my chair...sigh Oh well.. I had some nalbinding in a plastic bag, so I didn't have to sit there and twiddle my thumbs.

This is the follow up for the MRI I had about 6 months ago. It seems that one lump is quite persistent and this time when the sonogram was done following the mammogram it was not just the left side, but also the right that was checked. So will be a little antsy until I finally hear something. Hopefully, that will be today. [Hello, Pat... ;o) ]

This is a hand spun yarn from a bamboo, mohair and wool batt that I got in McKinney. It took me a while to realize that I really needed to card this stuff and I like the soft gold color that comes when I finish. After I knitted the "Linh's Ivy" scarf, I thought how pretty it would look in this thread, so I am trying it. I think I really need a much thinner thread to show off the stitch of this lovely pattern. I'm not sure that I like this and may pull it back out and do a broomstick lace with this yarn. We'll see....

Jim... send me pics of how you're coming with the quilt! Would love to see!

County Fair Time

This weekend was the County Fair. We went on Sunday thinking the crowd would be a little less. If this is the crowd on Sunday, I'm certainly glad we waited...lol And this is within 30 minutes of opening time. By the time we left about 45 minutes later the parking area was completely full and this open space in the front of the pic was no longer there. And people still coming..lol

The Arts and Crafts entries were the complete reason we went...well...the reason I went..lol DH went because I wanted to go...you know how it is...

I loved this quilt. The color selections alone made it one of my favorites, but the workmanship was wonderful. This quilt won Best of Show.

This Sunbonnet Sue with the Irish Chain was the one I really would have stuffed in my purse to take home with me...lol Something inherently innocent about this quilt that just makes me love it....

As a hanky lover, this immediately caught my eye. What a creative way to showcase antique hankies! And what lovely embroidery work!

There were many quilts shown. So many quilts and not enough wall room. There's one thing about it... we have some very talented quilters in the area. The blue quilt in the center was, of course, DH's favorite. I liked the brightly colored Christmas quilt on the left. These are the ones we voted for for People's Choice. But the fact is...there were so many wonderful quilts that just being there and seeing them all was inspiration personified....

Literally Pincushion Linda.. Sewing Pun Intended

Went to the allergist yesterday. Hmmm... After having 64 of these on my back, here she comes in with 20+ syringes stuck in their vials...standing tall like soldiers with pikes... Yes, I took a deep breath. And yes they did hurt...lol

And it did tell me what I already knew... and then some. Severe allergy to cats and ragweed... but didn't know had allergies to sycamore trees (in the front yard!) and many others... all grasses except rye and johnson grass...sigh House dust..etc and the list goes on... Oh well...

Double Hole Tape Weaving... Wow...

I probably will not try this one...lol But I love the way Cyndy of riverrim does it...

My Favorite Things

I suppose everyone knows that I am a true lover of teapots and pitchers. I have Hall's teapots, funny teapots, collector's teapots, tourist teapots and teapots from other countries...but this one touches my heart somewhere deep inside that I can't explain...and it's not even a teapot...it's a pitcher... I found it in a thrift shop and gave all of $2.00 for it...

Sniffles and Broomstick Lace

If you've been following my other blog, you'll already know that I have been preparing to go to Drumright (the town where 3 of my children were born) to the Oil Patch Jamboree. DD has a booth and we were going to set up and "sell our wares"... ;o) And then the sneezing, sniffling, runny nose, watery eyes, I can't sleep 'cause I can't breathe hit... early cold or sinus infection.. don't know which. Down for the count all day yesterday. Slept so much poor DH had no one to talk to most of the day. Anyway... now I have a bag full of beginner's spinning kits, hand spun yarns, hand spun and hand knit scarves, nalbinding things, and broomstick lace "Broomstiks"... and speaking of...

This is what I have been working on in the evenings. It is the most amazing stuff I have done in a long time. There is so much elasticity in it that I just love it. Whatever this thing is that I am working on is growing longer.. so looks like it will turn into a lacy scarf... I tried this with larger yarn and a larger Broomstik and it would make a really good afghan...

Video tutorial by Jennifer Hansen of Stitch Diva Studios showing how to do this is found here.

My Opinion

I don't know of anyone who is not concerned about what is happening in our economy right now... today. With the failure of the passage of the bail-out bill and resulting drop in the stock markets, things are looking a little scary.

I read a remark the other day that still comes to mind often.. paraphrased, of course, since I can no longer remember my middle name for more than 15 minutes.. "America is not happy because she is no longer the economic powerhouse of the world. This not that she has lost so much ground, but that the 'third world' has gained ground until she is no longer what she once was."

Hmmmmm....

Cherri ... over at River City Weaves ... has this to say and has requested it be posted on other's blogs as well...


Be a part of the solution
29 09 2008

I won’t go ‘partisan’ on you. But let’s be a part of the solution.

Support Americans.

This year, instead of buying cheap stuff or expensive stuff in department stores for holiday gifts, give American made quality fine craft and fine art items.

Support America by recognizing quality in your own country.

Don’t go out and buy cheap Wally Market stuff, actually spend a little extra, pay cash, so you aren’t sinking yourself deeper in debt, and buy a fine American made quilt, or afghan, or handwoven throw.

Buy pots from the local potter, prints from the local photographer, and scarves from the local felter.

Don’t look for cheap junk. That supports poor craftsmanship. Actually spend what you can, and be a part of the solution by keeping your money local.

Be aware that wool, alpaca, and other local fiber producing animals are not harmed in the harvest of their fiber, and it is a renewable resource.

Buy items made from easily, readily and locally re-newable resources.

When I was at one of the ‘gourmet’ grocery stores the other day, my kids and I were tasting gelato, and the attendant giving us samples kept saying," This is locally produced from Maryland, from Pennsylvania, from Georgia…..”

We are in Richmond, Virginia, so our ‘locally grown produce is from Richmond, and the surrounding counties.

If it took more than 5 gallons of gas to get it to me, it’s not local. Thanks.

Finally Finished Hand Spun..Tiny Booties

I finally finished spinning the first hand dyed roving I ever tried. I gave up on the hand spindle since I only use the spindle when I am out and about .. perhaps at the doctor's office or such.. so i finished it on my wheel. Ended with 120 yards of triple ply that measures out at 10-12 wpi. It has not been wet finished yet and I think it may be plyed a little to tight...we'll see. I'm thinking this will be joining the pink merino that I did last winter and be woven into a check pattern scarf...

I've had the knitting needles out again in the evening and when I had some yellow alpaca blend left over from the fabric I did on the Harp .. I decided to try this little pair of booties... How cute are they?!! The pattern is here at Bev's Country Cottage. I think I found the pattern via Mariella at Knitting Nonni ... I'm not sure..lol I know one thing... I need to ask her to do a tutorial on how to sew them together... ;O) I never seem to be able to do that so the seam is invisible...