Summary

Kim Zuch documents a week affected by nearby wildfires, sharing personal experiences and daily life through photographs and stories, while participating in a photo-a-day challenge.

Abstract

The week of August 16–22 for Kim Zuch was marked by the impact of three large wildfires in the vicinity, though her area was not directly threatened. The Caldor Fire's approach to South Lake Tahoe led to evacuations and preparations among residents. A brief respite from the smoke was provided by a cold front, but it returned later in the week. Amidst these events, Zuch's week included grooming her pet dog Sunny, encountering a wandering kitten named Vladimir at a campground, tutoring an elderly couple on social media, roasting Hatch green chilis, and adapting to a concert moved indoors due to hazardous air quality. The photo-a-day challenge, initiated by Dennett as a pandemic coping mechanism, continues to engage Zuch and others, encouraging them to capture and share their daily experiences.

Opinions

Zuch expresses concern about the wildfires and their impact on the community, particularly the threat to South Lake Tahoe.
She finds humor in the contrast between the cute kitten's appearance and its skull-and-crossbones collar.
Zuch appreciates the clarity of the sky on Thursday, taking a moment to capture the vibrant flowers.
She demonstrates resourcefulness by roasting and preserving Hatch green chilis for future meals.
Zuch shows a sense of responsibility by canceling a guided hike due to hazardous air quality, prioritizing safety over the event.
She values the photo-a-day challenge as a means of connection and expression, acknowledging its origin as a coping strategy during the pandemic.

PHOTO-A-DAY CHALLENGE

The Smoke Isn’t Going Away Anytime Soon

Week 12: August 16–22

We now have three large wildfires near us. Our area isn’t threatened, but the new Caldor Fire is moving towards South Lake Tahoe. Several communities have started evacuating. Other residents are getting nervous and making the necessary preparations.

A cold front came through on Wednesday and Thursday, bringing a short break from the smoke. Friday morning was clear, but the wind shifted and the smoke came back into the valleys.

On Monday, I finally remembered to make Sunny a grooming appointment. She won’t let us brush or groom her, so a professional has to do it. The photo shows her toe hair growing out of control. I’ll have to take before and after pictures so we can compare!

Tuesday brought the worst air quality we’ve seen in a long time. I was sitting in my vehicle waiting for a load of dirt to be delivered. I had the windows down until I saw pieces of ash floating around. I rolled up the windows and turned on the air conditioner.

Once the dirt arrived, I went back to the office. I took the photo above on my lunch break. It looks like I used a Sepia filter to turn everything brown, but this is what the street looked like that day.

We got a break from our normal routine on Wednesday when someone found a kitten wandering around the campground. He was limping and wearing a collar with a bell. The collar’s design was skulls and crossbones, which I thought was funny for such a cute kitten.

He ate a plate of tuna and drank water from a paper cup (the finest our office could provide) while our staff tried to find his owner. He kept trying to play-fight, so I made him a toy with a string and a ball. That kept him busy.

The cat’s owner finally came to pick him up. She said the limp was from an earlier injury. His name is Vladimir, as in Vlad the Impaler. Vlad was happy to see his ‘mom’ and they went on their way.

I spent a couple hours on Thursday as a social media tutor for a couple in their late 70s. It was a clear, sunny day. I couldn’t help noticing how bright their flowers looked in the sun, so I took a picture before I knocked on the door.

My husband and I went grocery shopping on Friday. The store had Hatch green chilis on sale for 99¢ per pound. I bought two pounds, took them home, and roasted them. After roasting, I peeled off the skin, removed the seeds, and froze the peppers. They’ll be great cooked with beans or chicken.

The air quality on Saturday night fell into the hazardous range. The free concert series got moved inside the Performance Hall, which was originally a Catholic church. I’m glad they didn’t cancel.

The merchandise booth was easy. We didn’t have to set up the EZ-UP or attach the lights since we were inside. Only one band brought merchandise and that consisted of a t-shirt and two tank top designs.

There weren’t many people at this concert because of the smoke and limited seating. The people who did attend were the die-hard fans who were super excited to be there. Their energy made the evening fun when it could have felt boring and slow.

The lead photo was taken Sunday afternoon on my way home from work. I was supposed to have a guided hike that night, but I canceled. Encouraging people to hike 3 miles when the air quality is hazardous (360 out of 500) didn’t sound responsible to any of us.

This was my week in photographs. Dennett started this PHOTO-A-DAY challenge last year, as a way to cope with the pandemic. Anyone can join! Take one photo a day for seven days, then write about your week.

Many others have joined in: Anne Bonfert, Erika Burkhalter, Barbara Radisavljevic, Barbara Dalton, Susan Alison, K. Barrett, Diana Lotti, Ellie Jacobson, and more!