Kiln is Loaded

The kiln is finally loaded and on.  I pray all turns out.  Since I am still a novice, I'm really not positive how things will turn out.  I have my hopes, but sometimes, the kiln or the glazes, just don't do what I think they're going to.  But, it's always exciting and by morning I should be able to show you what worked or what didn't.  There is always a few pieces that don't turn out like I think they will, so it goes...

My kiln is over 30 years old and a real workhorse, tho I don't use it as much as I could.  It has four switches and the high temperature is cone eight, which can go to 2320 degrees F.  I keep a timer going and every hour I turn on another switch until they are all on...then I wait until the kiln sitter does it's job and stops the kiln.   I have over-fired a time or two and I've under-fired a time or two, but I think I've learned the secrets of my kiln now, so I watch it carefully until it goes off.  My timer is my friend in this case.  I write down when it starts and when it stops and keep an eye on it until it quits.  It used to make me very nervous to run the kiln, but I'm more used to it now and I just let it do it's job and hope for the best outcome possible.