This was my first glaze fire of 2026, and it honestly tried to humble me right out of the gate. The kiln didn’t get to temperature, and for a minute it really felt like the whole load was going to be a write-off. I’m out here in rural Canada doing my usual mix of glaze experiments and practical pieces, so seeing a firing come up short is the kind of problem that makes your stomach drop—especially when you’re expecting that final melt and finish. But here’s the wild part: I was genuinely shocked at how well a lot of the pieces still turned out, even without hitting temp. I’m happy with the results overall, just not thrilled that it’s pointing straight at kiln maintenance—specifically that it’s time to change my elements. That’s part of owning and using a kiln, so I’m taking it as a “yep, we’re doing this now” moment. If you want to see me tackle an element change, tell me—because I can absolutely film that process too.