Kiln for pottery is being set up. Manure cakes are used to cover up any holes and also are the main source of fuel for the whole process. The kindling underneath the kiln is lit. Maria's red pottery gained her fame and economic security, however at the time, the 1920's, the pueblo as a whole was suffering economically and many men were forced to look for work outside the pueblo. An accident in firing created an all black shiny pot. Maria studied it and what occurred and discovered an all new way to fire pots. The new method involved throwing thinly ground manure on top of the fire at just the right moment to put out the fire and also produce a thick smoke which charred the pots a shiny black.