Day Off

This weekend, we ran away from home, if only for a day.  It was not a day to worry about what we were missing online, on television or what was still lingering on our to-do lists.  Rather, it was a day to give ourselves a break from responsibilities, spend time together as a family and indulge in our favorite activities.

Without the distractions, we focused on the simple joys of life.  And for our family, nothing soothes our tired spirits like visiting the ranch, playing with farm animals and walking the docks of the local fish camp.  We returned home relaxed and refocused.

Today, I invite you to share some images of your favorite activities. What do you like to do when you need to escape the day?

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Comments

[Zyril | Business Cards Online]

Very well said, for me I’d like to stay somewhere quiet where you can rest your mind from all the noise and distractions of city living. Somewhere very rustic and very close to nature where you can hear the chirping of the birds and the rustling of the leaves as you take a very long and relaxing nap.

[dws~11]

How about searching for trolls?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21985823@N07/6138795143/in/photostream

[Marcie]

I like to escape into the magical color and light that reflects off the water::
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/home/2011/9/13/gold-leaf.html

[Photography Beginners Guide]

Escaping for the day is such a lovely thought! I'd run away to the beach or to a lake, and just spend a lazy day between sun and shade, reading, swimming, and eating.

[LeAnne]

I found it so hard to get a day off that I literally had to escape to the mountains and shut out the world for a few days. I did this is at a retreat center a couple of hours from where I live and it was the best gift I every gave myself. My time of solitude was so meaningful to me, that I made a personal commitment to go once each season throughout the following year. Next month will be the one year anniversary of that decision and my fifth retreat this year. Here is a link to my flickr photo album I took while on my summer retreat. I'm still processing all the photos so more will be added later.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/leanne8790/sets/72157627435155346/with/6043631705/

[Emma]

While I love holidays to the beach, one of the most relaxing places I find, closer to home I find going for a walk is one of the nicest, simpler things to do (a kind of dying art here in Australia as everyone drives everywhere).

A link to a couple of images I took the other day:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53759195@N05/6135829418/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/53759195@N05/6132616870/in/photostream

[Puna]

Believe it or not, I like to cook to relax. This isn't a photo but rather it's a recipe. I thought it might fit the bill anyway.

http://lifesignatures.org/wordpress/2011/09/basic-thai-chili-sauce-best-condiment/

[Ana Eugenio]

I love to do street photography :) http://www.anasofiaeugenio.com/p/street.html

[Steph]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40182843@N04/4904149817/
I almost missed this moment...end of the season hug ~ our son and his coach. It makes me tear up everytime I look at it and it reminds there really are good people in the world! *It really takes a village, too!

[Heather]

This is where all my stresses melt away:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41706676@N00/6146371503/

[Angie]

It's amazing how one day off can have such a restorative effect, isn't it. Me and the mr went to the seaside last Friday (with my camera, of course) it really helped to blow away all the cobwebs... http://www.angiemuldowney.co.uk/2011/09/shades-of-bournemouth-blue/

[Jess]

I love to take off to the park with my kids and my camera for practice and fun. This particular day, I only had one guy home with me.

http://jessicavescera.blogspot.com/2011/09/some-practice.html

[Maery Rose]

Go trail riding with friends! http://youtu.be/LcEvXV0bWVw

[Cheryl]

Lovely image and thoughts, Tammy. Yesterday, I needed to get away for a little while. So, I drove to a lovely, little town nearby and got some shots of the lake, village and equine residents. They're at the top of my photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ruffedgedesign/

[shirley]

I find whenever we go to the Stable, an instant wave of relaxation comes over me. Maybe it's the open land and lack of street noise there.

http://www.shirleybehindthelens.com/2011/09/wordless-wednesday-out-building.html

[Kelly]

Two things that offer escape for me :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/58821554@N06/6004311512/in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/58821554@N06/5834254732/in/photostream

[maureen @ Cottage 960]

heh. Whenever possible I escape to the vineyards. And of course enjoy a glass. And hopefully the light will be as magical as the wine and I can capture the moment.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22377101@N04/6111571175/in/photostream

[koreen]

Escape... sounds lovely! I don't get very many chances to escape, but when I do, I like to go to this place... the mountains. We only got out to Nordegg once this year, but I keep hoping...

I know I've shared some photos from this mountain visit here before, but I can't help myself sharing more. This is serious business my son gets into in the mountains with his daddy. Very soothing and inspirational, especially when I can play to my hearts content with the light.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/koreenphotography/6146697015/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/koreenphotography/6147264204/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/koreenphotography/6146707699/in/photostream/

[Anna]

I like to escape on a mini-vacation. These shots were taken on a trip to take our daughter to college. I stayed a couple extra days to photograph around town and let our daughter show me the sights and the best coffee shops :)

http://www.vandemarkdesigns.blogspot.com/2011/09/door.html

[DebC]

This is the way we relax . . .
http://simplify-daily-life.blogspot.com/2011/09/20110914-camping-at-hardin-ridge.html

[J9]

I escape on my bicycle. I can go to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and ride the towpath or I can meander through neighborhoods near my house. Riding a bike is great--you can go for a fast sprint, and seconds later just pedal slowly and take in it all in. If you have energy you sprint or if you are tired you coast! Embrace the Zen of the bicycle!

[kirstin]

What a lovely post Tammy. This looks so very relaxing. What do I do to relax? Go to the sea and take photos!

[Cherish]

Living in Vancouver, BC I am lucky enough to have constant access to the ocean and mountains. Recently my youngest daughter and I abandoned all our domestic chores and headed to the beach. It was a glorious day to play hooky and I'm so glad I had my camera to capture some of the memories.
http://www.cherishbryckphotography.com/blog/2011/8/29/magic.html

[sharon]

my day today consisted of creating new products for the ethelruby range. I also received a sample swatch of fabric with one of my designs ... all in all, a productive, creative day :)
http://ethelrubydesign.blogspot.com/2011/09/pretty-patterns.html

[Corinna]

I have gotten a gentle reminder nudge in the past 24 hours that desire > duty, and that it's important to give room to the things that feed me, that I do just because they're good for me. It was a good thing to notice and remember.
http://www.birdwannawhistle.com/blog/2011/9/14/the-want-to.html

[joey]

We go to the lake.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/19379573@N06/6147438082/in/photostream

[JC]

Gardening is meditative for me, as is dealing with the resulting produce. Perhaps because it is so elemental and basic.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/justycinmd/5915500855/in/set-72157626828293018

I also love the end of the day, when the kids are in bed asleep and the house is quiet. It's a time to catch my breath and look at their sweet faces.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/justycinmd/6146020778/in/photostream

[Chelsea]

We recently took a much needed getaway trip as well. We drove the hour trip up to Los Angeles, explored places we had never been went to the Getty museum, and we too felt recharged and ready to take on the week! Thanks for sharing Tammy! xo

http://heartsandscars.blogspot.com/2011/09/picture-summer-day-14-summer-breeze.html

[Shawna]

We go to my mom and father in-law's place (my mom married my husband's father a year ago). Serene, out in the country, the kids have lots to occupy themselves with, and there's always delicious food and our contribution is usually just manning the BBQ.

It's also one of the few places I can just grab my camera and stroll through my mom's amazing garden.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shawnac/6126153866
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shawnac/6134563361

[Heather]

Recently we were out of power for 8 days. Getting unplugged brings you back to basics. We played games and played outside until it got dark.

[Michelle Bodamer]

We love to be in nature. Specifically, the mountains. Another way for us to unwind is to spend time with our three amazing dogs. We are hoping to get away for the weekend to the mountains this fall, it's just one of those things that completely rejuvenates you!

I mean look how gorgeous it is up in the ADK, and these are just photos I was able to take in passing while visiting friends: http://michellebodamer.squarespace.com/blog/2010/9/7/adirondack-mountains-weekend-with-friends-nature.html

When a getaway isn't possible, the dogs really help us keep it in perspective. :) I love our pups!

[mosey]

Escape for me would normally be a quiet day in the woods or on the coast, or in this case: just one of those afternoons wandering around the city with my two favourite people....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/a-la-mosey/6110804819

[Michelle]

My family and I were really in need of an escape from home this summer...especially me. Without sounding too 'whoa is me', our neighborhood experienced an F3 tornado in June and then a microburst came through town end of July and caused power outages and another big mess. I don't do well with clutter and disorganization and I do really well when I am accomplishing things (which I wasn't), so it was a stressful June and July. At least I tried not be stressed...I tried to not let things bother me and focus on appreciating the good things in life....like my kids and hubby.

So when it came time for a couple of escapes, I was really appreciating the time, and really so happy and thankful that we had glorious weather. A trip to Cape Cod with the kids and an early morning walk to see the hundreds of seals off Chatham resulted in this cherished photo of my oldest and youngest....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29333822@N07/6082712402/

Also in August we made our annual visit to our friends' lakehouse where I usually get my best pictures of the year. I came home with hundreds of photos of the kids having a blast tubing with each other and their friends. And one day I got myself in a kayak with my camera and followed two adult and two baby loons around the lake....snapping some pictures of nature and enjoying some well needed quiet time doing something I love....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29333822@N07/6145747324/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29333822@N07/6147215249/

Now the kids are back in school and although we've experienced shocks of an earthquake and a hurricane.....I'm feeling a little more in control and ready to get things accomplished!!

[Libertad Leal]

I like to scape to the beach. The smell and sound of the ocean makes me forget about anything that might be worrying me.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/libertadleal/6131654333
http://www.flickr.com/photos/libertadleal/6119259532
http://www.flickr.com/photos/libertadleal/6143773279
http://www.flickr.com/photos/libertadleal/6074873653

[Gail O]

The greatest escape is sailing in the wind on the waves....
http://threeos.blogspot.com/2011/09/11-september.html

[Robin Troxell]

I am looking forward to a girls' weekend in Oct as a time to rest, relax and recharge!

[kristin]

my little fmaily just went camping last weekend for 1 night.
it was perfect. though already quite chilly dipping below 50.
but we woke to the most beautiful and peaceful fog on the lake.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/6138189273/in/photostream

[Mira]

I am lucky to live in Italy and have great places to escape to. Like Pompeii. :) http://www.miracrisp.com/2011/09/photography-composition-golden-triangle.html

[Jen @Lita's World]

I love to walk on the beach...sunny day or gray day, hot or cold, it doesn't matter. I just find such peace there. When the family comes, it's all the more perfect.

http://litasworld.com/2010/12/wordless-wednesday-ranch-beach/

[Bonnie]

We like to go to one of our state parks for day hikes. Typically my kids go, kicking and screaming because as they say we are 'wasting their weekend', but in the end they always have a good time.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bjakobsen-martin/6123017253/

[Carol Joy Thomas]

I go to the mountains and take pictures as I wander trails. :)

http://sunflowerway.blogspot.com/2011/08/albion-basin-wildflowers.html

[lifeineden]

I feel like this is cheating since I shared it the other week, but we had a surprisingly fun time escaping to the bowling alley the other rainy weekend.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32837589@N07/6117467007/in/photostream

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[Diana]

I often like to do the same thing when I don't have the energy to do the household chores that have become overwhelming. The next day we are refreshed and the irrational anxiety has disappeared. Me and my family went to Niagara-on-lake a couple of weeks ago, bought peaches, strolled around town while the kids enjoyed playing in a wading pool. We couldn't have asked for a better day.

[JEANNE]

Wanted to share with you how i have managed to keep my groove in my own life, and how I find peace and joy on my days away from my "real world. http://thebutterflymetamorphosis.blogspot.com/2011/09/keeping-my-groove.html

[isabella rose]

when i can afford it...the spa. the beach also works for me!

[Katelyn]

I just discovered your blog via The Pioneer Woman. Perfect timing as I will be getting a dslr and will need tons of tips!

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