In August 2007, after getting the okay from my occupational therapist and hand surgeon, I again tried the potters wheel. I was rusty, but I threw 17 pieces that week. A few of those works are offered for the 2008 dinner.

In January 2008, I again went on the wheel and threw another 13 bowls, two of which I joined together to produce a bowl with a pronounced foot.

Ben Culbertson and Brian Simmons once again were last-minute in firing their high-fire glaze kiln, as they had to wait for enough wares to justify a gas kiln. The kiln was unloaded sometime early on Saturday Night, 9 February 2008 (Potters Bowl Eve).

I have ten good bowls from that firing, I discovered later that night. Unfortunately, I could not borrow a digital camera to have some keepsake of my endeavors.

One of the two bowls (bb and dd) with a hairline crack made it through and my applying underglaze sealed the crack. With the glaze on top, it is fine.

The other still has the crack. Perhaps a refire with a low-fire glaze will correct it for next year.

Another stellar bowl must be refired for one little "pitting" incident inside--a place where the glaze did not stick, leaving a hole. That would make it hard to clean. It will also be refired.

My attempts to seal my fame by applying Shaners Clear glaze on all the bowl bottoms, where I place my name, "PB08" and the reference letter(s) for the specific piece, were not all desireable, as the clear just wasn't clear. Perhaps it was applied too thickly. On a few works, it was quite milky and didn't even break on the carving.

My Woo Blue Brown pieces were disappointing. The glaze didn't break as it is known to do, and the color was a universal bluish gray. Also, my suspicions on the glaze being too thick were well-founded. My experiment with the bowl footed bowl would have been more interesting if all of my detailing/ carving could be seen. Nonetheless, the form is good, and it will be donated.

With a few from my August throws, I have at least 13 this year. I also have a small vase that I am donating. It's form is not great, but my detailing and glaze combination make it winsome.

I made up nice business cards to place in them at work on Saturday, 9 February, with my boss' permission. (I have a part-time job at Carol Homes as Sales Coordinator.)

So I take off work early Sunday--again with my boss' permission--and arrive before my bowls. Co-chair Carol Mendelsohn said "Well, there's nothing you can do at this point--find a seat and enjoy."

My friends and fellow potters had indeed saved me a seat. I thought I chose a Julie Miller Cooper bowl, but learned from Julie--that wasn't her bowl. So I reselected, this time a white stoneware bowl by AnnaMarie Poole.

About ten minutes later, Ben Culbertson arrives with our bowls. Friends gather--mostly to see his bowls unwrapped--but were surprsied to see I donated 17 bowls and a small vase. I dropped a card in each; one was immediately taken. Ben brought that yellow bowl--and someone picked it before some of my lovelies. As our bowls were displayed after most people had selected, I was okay that I had five still unspoken for as the dinner commenced. But then the extras were sold at $20 each, and I was down to four. As I went for seconds (or thirds), a lady struck up a conversation. She purchased one of my bowls. By night's end, only two of my bowls were left, and those two were fine bowls.

The Potters Bowl gives me the chance to combine two of my hobbies: pottery and gluttony. My soup selections:

• Turkey Bean (the server gave me quite a bit)
• Maryland Crab
• Mugalawtawney
• Chicken Matzah Ball
• Chicken Tortilla

Per Dinner Co-Chair Carol Mendelsohn on Friday, 15 February 2008, the event raised $17,298 this year.