Day 59: Nothing

Assignment: Make a photograph illustrating a sound that catches you ear today.  

All I have wanted to hear lately is the sound of peace and quiet.  My life has been entirely way to chaotic, full of "stuff" to do.  The last two days have been very peaceful and relaxing. To me, these flowers represent the peace and quiet that I have been longing for.  When my grandpa passed away, these were sent to me by my sisters-in-law, Cari and Rach and their families.  Aren't they beautiful?

Day 58: Burning Love

Assignment: Make a photograph of something that is glowing today.  Use any meaning of the word you like. 

Self-explanatory.  I actually really l love the composition of this photo! I know it sounds unlike me, but I love that it is off center.

Jonny wanted to do this...

Zorro!

Day 57: Connected to my family

Assignment: Make a photograph that illustrates the idea of connection.

I skyped with this lady, my sister, brother-in-law, and niece for a long time today.  Skype is an AMAZING way to stay connected.  If you don't know anything about Skype, you must download the program and enjoy the modern convenience video calling (for free). 

Day 56: Brynlee

Forget the topic today... I have a new niece born on Wednesday... Brynlee Mae.  I've been dying to put a picture up! She's so CUTE!

Photo taken by my mom

Day 55: Relaxing

Assignment: Illustrate your idea of peace and harmony -- or maybe just peace and quiet-- today with a photograph. 

I chose to take a picture of this because 1) Jonny suggested I should (who would turn down a nice foot massage?) and 2) my other picture was really lame. Anyway, this illustrates peace and quiet to me.

Day 54: Beauty is...

Assignment: Beauty is all around us.  Make a photo of some naturally occurring beauty in your area today. 

... no snow on the ground.  What is funny about this picture taken on the way to the gym, is that on the way back it started to rain... not as pretty! I'm ready for winter to be over.

Day 53: Waiting... impatiently

Assignment: Make a photograph today that illustrates the act of waiting.

I think this is a perfect example of what I am waiting for!  Not much of a photo, but definitely lives up to the assignment. 

Day 52: Who Am Eye?

Assignment: Who are you? Make a self portrait today and show the rest of us what you look ilke.

This is me... well, my eye.  I didn't really feel like taking a picture of myself so the photo isn't that great.  Maybe next time there is a self-portrait, I'll get more creative. 

Day 51: Winter Trees

I am cheating a little with this photo because I actually took it yesterday, but I wasn't feeling today's topic and I LOVED these pictures.  I actually made Jonny turn the car around so I could take pictures of these trees.  I just love the colors of the sky and fields contrasting with the brown tree!

Day 50: This Is Where I Live

Assignment: Make a photograph of something that captures a small bit of the flavor of where you live or your culture. 

Well... this is where we live.  No, no... not in a grain silo... but this is a perfect representation of our surroundings.  We live out here in the Midwest, where silos are to us what skyscrapers are to NYC.  And this is what we did today... a little rock climbing inside the 60-foot silos.  These are pictures of Jonny doing his thing.  He's a pretty AMAZING climber.  

If you were wondering how I did... I only made it up to the top of one run-- probably about 1/3 the size of these walls. 

It was a great day... Jonny didn't even crack a book all day. 

Jonny

Dizzy yet?

Horberg

Day 49: The Moon

Assignment: Make a photograph that features the color yellow in some way or another.  

Well, it was a full moon tonight and it looked quite big up there in the sky.  Looking back on the pictures, it doesn't look as pale yellow as it did in real life... but it was pretty awesome.  This picture doesn't do it justice. 

Jonny and I also were judges for the Boo-Boo Kids Quilt Contest for Make A Blanket Day (Project Linus) and there were some pretty amazing quilts.  I found a little yellow in this cute quilt!

Day 48: I feel ...

Assignment: Happy, sad, frazzled, or joyous: Make an abstract or literal photo that expresses how you feel today.

I feel peaceful.  With the chaos ever so present in my life over the past few weeks, I finally have a feeling of peace.  I found this scripture in John 14:27 and it expresses exactly how I feel.  I know my grandpa is up in heaven smiling down on us and that gives me peace.

Day 47: It's a Chocolate Day

Assignment: Make a high key photograph today dominated by bright tones. 

It's been a long day... and I deserve this happy face made of chocolate chips. :) Can you tell I love food?

Day 46: Sunsets

Today, the sun looked huge as it was setting.  It was a beautiful sunset... I just wish I had my regular camera with me and not my cell phone. 

Day 45: Happy Valentine's Day

Once again, I don't like the assignment.  Well, it's not that I don't like the topic but I don't like it for today.  I would rather document what happened during the day so I can remember it in years to come. 

I'm not the girl who needs a box of chocolates to make me happy.  I would rather have this: 

Jonny's YUMMY pasta.  Anyone that has ever tried it just LOVES it (including me).  We can only eat it on special occasions because it has almost no nutritional value.  He also prepared a little iPod shuffle of some of my favorite songs to listen to while eating dessert. So sweet. 

The other way to my heart is making me comfy.  So... in lieu of flowers... 

Socks and sweats! You can never go wrong with socks in my book.  I'm obsessed.  And the man knows me best because I would rather wear sweats than anything else. He gave them to me this morning, his reasoning being "I knew you might want to come home and put some sweats on... and I wanted you to have some new sweats to put on."  Awwww. 

Best Valentine's Day. Ever.

Day 44: He Had It Coming!

I hate bees... they freak me out.  This guy had no chance with me.  I suffocated him using the lid of my bronzer.  PETA might come after me for this one.  This picture is creepy thanks to my macro lens.

Day 43: Bernie

Toby Tucker Photography

Toby Tucker Photography

Toby Tucker Photography

Toby Tucker Photography

I decided to skip the topic today and take the time to look back on photos of my Grandpa, Bernell Berg.  No original work from me today.  

  My grandpa passed away peacefully today.  This last week was a little rough for him so this moment was to be expected.  Yet the news was still hard to hear.  His body was just tired.  

What a sweet man he was.  He loved all of us so much.  He knew and taught all of us the value of hard work, working for as long as he possibly could-- retirement WASN'T for him.  He was always making people laugh with his blunt way of saying things.  He was a man who loved the gospel.  He served our country and was incredibly patriotic.  

I held onto to the last card he wrote me because something in me knew it might be the last.  He was never short on letting all of his grandkids know how much he loved them and I am grateful for that.

I don't like all this part of life.  I'd rather be laughing and having fun.  But, I know he's in a better place.  And because of my faith, I KNOW someday I will be able to see him again in his perfect form.  Life will be different without him.  His smile and love will be missed. I love you grandpa. 

Day 42: Pearls of Wisdom

Assignment: Sometimes what's out of focus can make the shot.  Create a photograph today where some/all of your subject isn't in focus.  

My mom brought this necklace back to me and I just think it is beautiful.  She gave one to each of us girls.  I've been thinking a lot about family lately... I love having these special things to help remind me of what a great family I have. 

Day 41: It's All About Perspective

Assignment: Change your point of view.  Make a photograph from an unusual point of view today.

Okay, so I actually took this photo yesterday.  And I LOVED it but it didn't work for yesterday's topic.  But, when I saw what today's assignment was... I just HAD to use this photo.

Day 40: Light

Assignment: Make a photograph that features a leading line through it today.  Draw the viewers eye through the image. 

I hope there is light at the end of this tunnel.

Day 39: Be Prepared

Assignment: We all prepare for things every day.  Illustrate preparedness in a photograph today.  

72-Hour kit... compliments of my mom.  What a great gift.

Day 38: Overwhelmed... with stuff...

I am skipping today's assignment to say... I am overwhelmed.  I have signed up for way too much.  I have too much to do, too much to read, and too many things going on in my life.  I need a relaxing weekend... maybe next month....

Day 37: I've Got the Power

Assignment: Power plugs are ubiquitous.  Can you make a creative photo of such a common thing? Try it today!

Well, I can't say this is creative (or high quality-- another cell phone shot), but I think it is funny.  This reflects my dependence on power.  These plugs go to the following items: 1) my computer, 2) the TV, 3) my straightener, 4) the lamp, and 5) the foot massager.  What would I do without power? I don't want to know. 

Day 36: I'm Melting

Assignment: Go abstract today and make a photograph that focuses on form and color rather than detail.

I know I am focused on detail in this first photo, but I can explain.  I was thinking of what to take a picture picture of and I heard the sound of water dripping.  I looked around and realized that, even though it snowed this morning, there was interesting pictures with all this melting snow.  I just really liked the way this picture turned out.

Can you guess what the water is reflecting in the pictures below?

 

Day 35: Deep Snow

Assignment: Create a photo today that gives a sense of depth or dimension. 

This is just the sidewalk.  You should see the piles of snow throughout the parking lot.  Taller than me. 

Day 34: Downtown

Assignment: Look upward today.  Make a photograph with a low horizon and that emphasizes the sky.

Today I took a trip downtown to go to the public library as well as just get out of the house.  I have been cooped up with this nasty weather and I just needed some fresh air.  So, I ventured out.  Well, downtown was hit PRETTY hard with snow over the past few days.  The roads looked like skating rinks and looked like a plow maybe went through the streets once... while it was still snowing.  But, it was an absolutely beautiful (but frigid) day.  The sky is blue, blue, blue and the sun is shining.  I am not complaining about that! Wahoo!

Well, my $17 Target faux-Uggs and my $50 Mossimo (also from Target) jacket have definitely paid off. I was so warm that I was actually slightly glistening (sweating just sounds so gross) while walking to the library.  Anyway, here's what I found.