diff --git a/box.go b/box.go
index 9c8bda4..0dbc674 100644
--- a/box.go
+++ b/box.go
@@ -8,7 +8,9 @@ func (parent *Node) NewBox(name string, b bool) *Node {
 	newNode := parent.newNode(name, widget.Box)
 	newNode.B = b
 
-	a := newAction(newNode, widget.Add)
-	sendAction(a)
+	if ! newNode.hidden {
+		a := newAction(newNode, widget.Add)
+		sendAction(a)
+	}
 	return newNode
 }
diff --git a/button.go b/button.go
index 246c39c..3feb046 100644
--- a/button.go
+++ b/button.go
@@ -6,8 +6,10 @@ func (parent *Node) NewButton(name string, custom func()) *Node {
 	newNode := parent.newNode(name, widget.Button)
 	newNode.Custom = custom
 
-	a := newAction(newNode, widget.Add)
-	sendAction(a)
+	if ! newNode.hidden {
+		a := newAction(newNode, widget.Add)
+		sendAction(a)
+	}
 	return newNode
 }
 
diff --git a/checkbox.go b/checkbox.go
index 29722fe..81beb2d 100644
--- a/checkbox.go
+++ b/checkbox.go
@@ -9,7 +9,9 @@ func (n *Node) Checked() bool {
 func (n *Node) NewCheckbox(name string) *Node {
 	newNode := n.newNode(name, widget.Checkbox)
 
-	a := newAction(newNode, widget.Add)
-	sendAction(a)
+	if ! newNode.hidden {
+		a := newAction(newNode, widget.Add)
+		sendAction(a)
+	}
 	return newNode
 }
diff --git a/common.go b/common.go
index e9a493d..614a749 100644
--- a/common.go
+++ b/common.go
@@ -12,26 +12,34 @@ import (
 // functions for handling text related GUI elements
 
 func (n *Node) Show() *Node {
-	a := newAction(n, widget.Show)
-	sendAction(a)
+	if ! n.hidden {
+		a := newAction(n, widget.Show)
+		sendAction(a)
+	}
 	return n
 }
 
 func (n *Node) Hide() *Node {
-	a := newAction(n, widget.Hide)
-	sendAction(a)
+	if ! n.hidden {
+		a := newAction(n, widget.Hide)
+		sendAction(a)
+	}
 	return n
 }
 
 func (n *Node) Enable() *Node {
-	a := newAction(n, widget.Enable)
-	sendAction(a)
+	if ! n.hidden {
+		a := newAction(n, widget.Enable)
+		sendAction(a)
+	}
 	return n
 }
 
 func (n *Node) Disable() *Node {
-	a := newAction(n, widget.Disable)
-	sendAction(a)
+	if ! n.hidden {
+		a := newAction(n, widget.Disable)
+		sendAction(a)
+	}
 	return n
 }
 
@@ -40,8 +48,10 @@ func (n *Node) Add(str string) {
 
 	n.S = str
 
-	a := newAction(n, widget.Add)
-	sendAction(a)
+	if ! n.hidden {
+		a := newAction(n, widget.Add)
+		sendAction(a)
+	}
 }
 
 func (n *Node) AddText(str string) {
@@ -50,8 +60,10 @@ func (n *Node) AddText(str string) {
 	n.Text = str
 	n.S = str
 
-	a := newAction(n, widget.AddText)
-	sendAction(a)
+	if ! n.hidden {
+		a := newAction(n, widget.AddText)
+		sendAction(a)
+	}
 }
 
 func (n *Node) SetText(text string) *Node {
@@ -60,8 +72,10 @@ func (n *Node) SetText(text string) *Node {
 	n.Text = text
 	n.S = text
 
-	a := newAction(n, widget.SetText)
-	sendAction(a)
+	if ! n.hidden {
+		a := newAction(n, widget.SetText)
+		sendAction(a)
+	}
 	return n
 }
 
@@ -86,8 +100,10 @@ func (n *Node) Set(val any) {
 		log.Error(errors.New("Set() unknown type"), "v =", v)
 	}
 
-	a := newAction(n, widget.Set)
-	sendAction(a)
+	if ! n.hidden {
+		a := newAction(n, widget.Set)
+		sendAction(a)
+	}
 }
 
 func (n *Node) AppendText(str string) {
@@ -95,8 +111,10 @@ func (n *Node) AppendText(str string) {
 	n.Text = tmp
 	n.S = tmp
 
-	a := newAction(n, widget.SetText)
-	sendAction(a)
+	if ! n.hidden {
+		a := newAction(n, widget.SetText)
+		sendAction(a)
+	}
 }
 
 // THESE TWO FUNCTIONS ARE TERRIBLY NAMED AND NEED TO BE FIXED
@@ -169,33 +187,48 @@ func commonCallback(n *Node) {
 }
 
 func (n *Node) Margin() *Node {
-	a := newAction(n, widget.Margin)
-	sendAction(a)
+	n.margin = true
+	if ! n.hidden {
+		a := newAction(n, widget.Margin)
+		sendAction(a)
+	}
 	return n
 }
 
 func (n *Node) Unmargin() *Node {
-	a := newAction(n, widget.Unmargin)
-	sendAction(a)
+	n.margin = false
+	if ! n.hidden {
+		a := newAction(n, widget.Unmargin)
+		sendAction(a)
+	}
 	return n
 }
 
 func (n *Node) Pad() *Node {
-	a := newAction(n, widget.Pad)
-	sendAction(a)
+	n.pad = true
+	if ! n.hidden {
+		a := newAction(n, widget.Pad)
+		sendAction(a)
+	}
 	return n
 }
 
 func (n *Node) Unpad() *Node {
-	a := newAction(n, widget.Unpad)
-	sendAction(a)
+	n.pad = false
+	if ! n.hidden {
+		a := newAction(n, widget.Unpad)
+		sendAction(a)
+	}
 	return n
 }
 
 func (n *Node) Expand() *Node {
-	a := newAction(n, widget.Pad)
-	a.Expand = true
-	sendAction(a)
+	n.expand = true
+	if ! n.hidden {
+		a := newAction(n, widget.Pad)
+		a.Expand = true
+		sendAction(a)
+	}
 	return n
 }
 
diff --git a/dropdown.go b/dropdown.go
index 8afc19c..3d5a15c 100644
--- a/dropdown.go
+++ b/dropdown.go
@@ -22,8 +22,10 @@ func (n *Node) SetDropdownName(name string) {
 func (n *Node) NewDropdown(name string) *Node {
 	newNode := n.newNode(name, widget.Dropdown) 
 
-	a := newAction(newNode, widget.Add)
-	sendAction(a)
+	if ! newNode.hidden {
+		a := newAction(newNode, widget.Add)
+		sendAction(a)
+	}
 
 	return newNode
 }
@@ -31,8 +33,10 @@ func (n *Node) NewDropdown(name string) *Node {
 func (n *Node) NewCombobox(name string) *Node {
 	newNode := n.newNode(name, widget.Combobox) 
 
-	a := newAction(newNode, widget.Add)
-	sendAction(a)
+	if ! newNode.hidden {
+		a := newAction(newNode, widget.Add)
+		sendAction(a)
+	}
 
 	return newNode
 }
diff --git a/grid.go b/grid.go
index e5d5e42..e1eb7ac 100644
--- a/grid.go
+++ b/grid.go
@@ -31,8 +31,10 @@ func (n *Node) NewGrid(name string, w int, h int) *Node {
 	newNode.NextW = 1
 	newNode.NextH = 1
 
-	a := newAction(newNode, widget.Add)
-	sendAction(a)
+	if ! newNode.hidden {
+		a := newAction(newNode, widget.Add)
+		sendAction(a)
+	}
 
 	// by default, always pad grids
 	newNode.Pad()
diff --git a/group.go b/group.go
index 9971d63..e4fa7ca 100644
--- a/group.go
+++ b/group.go
@@ -11,8 +11,10 @@ func (parent *Node) NewGroup(name string) *Node {
 	var newNode *Node
 	newNode = parent.newNode(name, widget.Group)
 
-	a := newAction(newNode, widget.Add)
-	sendAction(a)
+	if ! newNode.hidden {
+		a := newAction(newNode, widget.Add)
+		sendAction(a)
+	}
 
 	// by default, always pad groups
 	newNode.Pad()
diff --git a/image.go b/image.go
index 8963e54..bd6b972 100644
--- a/image.go
+++ b/image.go
@@ -8,7 +8,9 @@ func (parent *Node) NewImage(name string) *Node {
 	var newNode *Node
 	newNode = parent.newNode(name, widget.Image)
 
-	a := newAction(newNode, widget.Add)
-	sendAction(a)
+	if ! newNode.hidden {
+		a := newAction(newNode, widget.Add)
+		sendAction(a)
+	}
 	return newNode
 }
diff --git a/int.go b/int.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 09e1ec7..0000000
--- a/int.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,27 +0,0 @@
-package gui
-
-/*
-	Get the int from the gui toolkit
-	because eventually this gui package should become it's own seperate go routine and never interact from the
-	gui subroutine back into the upstream application using the gui package
-
-	TODO: instead store the int in the Node structure? (this is probably a better idea)
-	because technically every interaction with the toolkit has to go through the Queue() goroutine.
-	Is it "has to go" or "should go"? Probably it makes sense to strictly inforce it. No "callback" functions. IPC only (go channels)
-*/
-/*
-func (n *Node) Int() int {
-	return n.widget.I
-}
-
-// which name to use?
-func (n *Node) Value() int {
-	return n.Int()
-}
-
-func (n *Node) SetValue(i int) {
-	log(debugGui, "gui.SetValue() START")
-	// FIXME: this needs to be redone
-	// n.toolkit.SetValue(i)
-}
-*/
diff --git a/label.go b/label.go
index 99ed9d8..a91b794 100644
--- a/label.go
+++ b/label.go
@@ -6,9 +6,10 @@ import (
 
 func (parent *Node) NewLabel(text string) *Node {
 	newNode := parent.newNode(text, widget.Label)
-	a := newAction(newNode, widget.Add)
-	a.Text = text
-	a.S = text
-	sendAction(a)
+
+	if ! newNode.hidden {
+		a := newAction(newNode, widget.Add)
+		sendAction(a)
+	}
 	return newNode
 }
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index cefcdca..19570d8 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ func init() {
 	// Populates the top of the binary tree
 	me.rootNode = addNode("guiBinaryTree")
 	me.rootNode.WidgetType = widget.Root
+	me.rootNode.hidden = false // always send the rootNode to the toolkits
 
 	// used to pass debugging flags to the toolkit plugins
 	me.flag = me.rootNode.newNode("flag", 0)
diff --git a/node.go b/node.go
index 518b768..b45269e 100644
--- a/node.go
+++ b/node.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ func (n *Node) newNode(title string, t widget.WidgetType) *Node {
 	}
 	newN.AtW = n.NextW
 	newN.AtH = n.NextH
+	newN.hidden = n.hidden // by default, use the value from above
 
 	n.children = append(n.children, newN)
 	newN.parent = n
diff --git a/slider.go b/slider.go
index 6638cd3..fd2b207 100644
--- a/slider.go
+++ b/slider.go
@@ -14,10 +14,12 @@ func (parent *Node) NewSlider(name string, x int, y int) *Node {
 
 	newNode.X = x
 	newNode.Y = y
-	a := newAction(newNode, widget.Add)
-	a.X = x
-	a.Y = y
-	sendAction(a)
+	if ! newNode.hidden {
+		a := newAction(newNode, widget.Add)
+		a.X = x
+		a.Y = y
+		sendAction(a)
+	}
 
 	return newNode
 }
diff --git a/spinner.go b/spinner.go
index 0de54f6..301ed61 100644
--- a/spinner.go
+++ b/spinner.go
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@ func (parent *Node) NewSpinner(name string, x int, y int) *Node {
 	newNode.X = x
 	newNode.Y = y
 
-	a := newAction(newNode, widget.Add)
-	sendAction(a)
+	if ! newNode.hidden {
+		a := newAction(newNode, widget.Add)
+		sendAction(a)
+	}
 	return newNode
 }
diff --git a/structs.go b/structs.go
index 792bcc8..308aeb7 100644
--- a/structs.go
+++ b/structs.go
@@ -48,7 +48,11 @@ type guiConfig struct {
 // The Node is a binary tree. This is how all GUI elements are stored
 // simply the name and the size of whatever GUI element exists
 type Node struct {
-	id     int
+	id	int // should be unique
+	hidden	bool // Sierpinski Carpet mode. It's there, but you can't see it.
+	pad	bool // the toolkit may use this. it's up to the toolkit
+	margin	bool // the toolkit may use this. it's up to the toolkit
+	expand	bool // the toolkit may use this. it's up to the toolkit
 
 	WidgetType	widget.WidgetType
 
diff --git a/textbox.go b/textbox.go
index fec0c2e..16837c0 100644
--- a/textbox.go
+++ b/textbox.go
@@ -13,8 +13,10 @@ func (parent *Node) NewTextbox(name string) *Node {
 		log.Log(GUI, "NewTextbox changed =", name)
 	}
 
-	a := newAction(newNode, widget.Add)
-	sendAction(a)
+	if ! newNode.hidden {
+		a := newAction(newNode, widget.Add)
+		sendAction(a)
+	}
 	return newNode
 }
 
@@ -27,7 +29,9 @@ func (parent *Node) NewEntryLine(name string) *Node {
 		log.Log(GUI, "NewTextbox changed =", name)
 	}
 
-	a := newAction(newNode, widget.Add)
-	sendAction(a)
+	if ! newNode.hidden {
+		a := newAction(newNode, widget.Add)
+		sendAction(a)
+	}
 	return newNode
 }
diff --git a/window.go b/window.go
index a0676b2..54d4331 100644
--- a/window.go
+++ b/window.go
@@ -16,7 +16,48 @@ func (parent *Node) NewWindow(title string) *Node {
 
 	log.Info("NewWindow()", title)
 
-	a := newAction(newNode, widget.Add)
-	sendAction(a)
+	if ! newNode.hidden {
+		a := newAction(newNode, widget.Add)
+		sendAction(a)
+	}
 	return newNode
 }
+
+// allow window create without actually sending it to the toolkit
+func (parent *Node) RawWindow(title string) *Node {
+	var newNode *Node
+
+	// Windows are created off of the master node of the Binary Tree
+	newNode = parent.newNode(title, widget.Window)
+	newNode.Custom = StandardExit
+	newNode.hidden = true
+
+	log.Info("RawWindow()", title)
+	return newNode
+}
+
+// TODO: should do this recursively
+func (n *Node) UnDraw() *Node {
+	if ! n.hidden {
+		n.Hide()
+	}
+	n.hidden = true
+	return n
+}
+
+// TODO: should do this recursively
+func (n *Node) Draw() *Node {
+	n.hidden = false
+
+	a := newAction(n, widget.Add)
+	sendAction(a)
+	return n
+}
+
+// if the toolkit supports a gui with pixels, it might honor this. no promises
+// consider this a 'recommendation' or developer 'preference' to the toolkit
+func (n *Node) PixelSize(w, h int) *Node {
+	n.width = w
+	n.height = w
+	return n
+}