Summertime Take Time To Smell The Roses
By  Search EzineArticles.com 

I AM SO GRATEFUL for the time to smell the roses.Lying in a hammock between two shade treesOr wandering through a multicolodred rose garden,Sitting quietly and communing with natureBeholding something beautiful in each person I meet.

I AM SO GRATEFUL for a walk with no destination.A choice pair of tennis shoes cushions my feet,Pretty plantings in the neighborhood catch my eye,A leisurely chat provides a welcome, short break,And a nonchalant jogger says, "Have a nice day."

I AM SO GRATEFUL for the sounds of summer.A bicyle beeps a warning from behind,A hard hit implants a resounding whack,Lawn mowers drone while cutting the grass,And booming fireworks light up the night sky.

I AM SO GRATEFUL for the lazy, hazy days of summer.The click of croquet balls rebound across manicured turf,The cool tingle of a root beer float satisfies a deep thirst,Straw bonnets

Florida Marlins' Anibal Sanchez shines with 1-hitter vs. Giants
A bloop single in the fifth by Pablo Sandoval was all that kept Anibal Sanchez from his second career no-hitter.
Florida Marlins trade Jorge Cantu to Rangers for two minor-leaguers
Jorge Cantu's heart skipped a beat before the Marlins took the field on Thursday when traveling secretary Bill Beck held out a cellphone and told him he had a call.
Giants' Brian Wilson fined for bright orange spikes
Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez not only thought the garishly bright orange spikes worn by Giants closer Brian Wilson on Tuesday night were a distraction to hitters, but he also thought they were repugnant.
Late comeback wasted as Florida Marlins fall to Giants
The Marlins rallied from a seven-run deficit - tying the score in the ninth - but wound up losing to the Giants on Andres Torres' single in the 10th inning in San Francisco.
Jimenez, offense ends Rockies eight-game skid, 9-3
Ubaldo Jimenez rebounded from two rough starts to pitch seven effective innings and the Colorado Rockies snapped an eight-game skid with a 9-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday.
Orioles hire Buck Showalter as manager
Buck Showalter was hired to manage the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday, his latest rebuilding project in a major league career full of them.
Valdez's hit lifts Phillies past D'Backs
Wilson Valdez's RBI single with one out in the 11th inning lifted the Philadelphia Phillies to their eighth straight win, 3-2 over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday night.
Young, Teagarden's rare HR send Rangers by A's 7-4
Michael Young scored his first three times up and light-hitting Taylor Teagarden hit a two-run home run, sending the Texas Rangers to a 7-4 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Thursday night.
Salazar's pinch-hit single lifts Padres, 3-2
Oscar Salazar's pinch-hit single with one out in the ninth inning gave the NL West-leading San Diego Padres a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday to take two of three games in the series.
Twins acquire closer Capps from Nationals
The Twins have acquired All-Star closer Matt Capps from the Washington Nationals for minor leaguers Wilson Ramos and Joe Testa.
Marlins trade 3B Cantu to Texas
Jorge Cantu saw the light blinking on his cell phone when he got to his locker and knew it might finally be time. Then, he read the text message from his agent: He was headed for Texas.
Oswalt approves deal, Astros trade ace to Phillies
There's a new Roy in town - and he's an ace, too.
A-Rod has three RBIs, but no No. 600 in Yanks win
Alex Rodriguez drove in three runs without hitting his 600th homer and the New York Yankees used a seven-run seventh inning to beat the Cleveland Indians 11-4 Thursday night.
Padres get Tejada from Orioles
The NL West-leading San Diego Padres obtained infielder Miguel Tejada and cash from the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday in exchange for Double-A right-hander Wynn Pelzer.
Recap: Texas vs. Oakland
Trevor Cahill allowed two hits over eight innings in a dominant performance, and Kurt Suzuki homered and knocked in two runs to guide Oakland in 3-1 win over the Texas Rangers in the middle contest of a three-game series.
Nationals send Capps to Twins for Ramos
The Washington Nationals have reportedly traded closer Matt Capps to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for highly regarded catcher prospect Wilson Ramos.
Rangers acquire Cantu from Marlins
The Texas Rangers bolstered their infield, acquiring Jorge Cantu and cash considerations from the Florida Marlins in exchange for a pair of pitching prospects.
Arizona Diamondbacks (37-64) at Philadelphia Phillies (55-46), 7:05 p.m.
While the Philadelphia Phillies wait for Roy Oswalt to approve a trade to them, they will shoot for a three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight at Citizens Bank Park.
Detroit Tigers (51-49) at Tampa Bay Rays (62-38), 12:10 p.m.
It's been over a month since the Detroit Tigers last won a game on the road. A matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays and David Price doesn't seem to bode well for the struggling club's chances of ending that drought.
Recap: Cleveland vs. NY Yankees
Alex Rodriguez didn't hit his 600th career home run, but drove in three runs while both Derek Jeter and Curtis Granderson added two RBI as the New York Yankees used a late burst of offense to down Cleveland, 11-4, in the finale of a four-game set.
Recap: Chicago WSox vs. Seattle
Alex Rios singled home the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh inning, and the Chicago White Sox came away with a 6-5 victory over Seattle in the third test of a four-game series at U.S. Cellular Field.
Recap: San Francisco vs. Florida
Anibal Sanchez was nearly perfect on the mound as he tossed his second career shutout in Florida's 5-0 win over San Francisco.
Nationals RHP Strasburg heads to 15-day DL
Rookie right-hander Stephen Strasburg went on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with inflammation in his throwing shoulder, the latest indication of how careful the Washington Nationals are being with their prized pitcher.
Baltimore Orioles (31-70) at Kansas City Royals (42-59), 8:10 p.m.
A pair of last-place teams seeking to end lengthy losing streaks begin a four-game series tonight at Kansas City's Kauffman Stadium, where the slumping Royals hope to get well at the expense of the lowly Baltimore Orioles.
Giants' Wilson fined
San Francisco Giants reliever Brian Wilson has reportedly been fined $1,000 by the league for wearing all- orange shoes against the Marlins on Tuesday.
Recap: Colorado vs. Pittsburgh
Garrett Jones homered twice as part of a four- hit night and drove in three runs as the Pirates overcame an early injury to pitcher Ross Ohlendorf to beat the Colorado Rockies, 6-2, at Coors Field.
Oswalt traded to Phillies; Tejada, Cantu also move
Roy Oswalt granted his own wish: He's now part of a pennant race. Miguel Tejada and Jorge Cantu joined the mix, too.
No-brainer for both Phils and Oswalt
It is hard to argue against the Philadelphia Phillies' acquisition of Houston righty Roy Oswalt, especially considering they received some money from the Astros and did not have to exercise his 2012 option.
Seattle Mariners (39-63) at Chicago White Sox (56-44), 8:10 p.m.
The Chicago White Sox try for their first 11-game home winning streak in 21 years this evening, when they attempt to complete a four- game sweep of the Seattle Mariners at U.S. Cellular Field.
Pittsburgh Pirates (36-64) at Colorado Rockies (51-50), 3:10 p.m.
Suddenly slumping right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez has a few positives going for him today when he gets the call for the Colorado Rockies in the third and final game of their series with the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates at Coors Field.
Recap: Washington vs. Atlanta
Ian Desmond and Adam Dunn each homered, as the Washington Nationals edged the Atlanta Braves, 5-3, in the rubber match of a three-game series.
Orioles hire Showalter as manager
The Baltimore Orioles have reportedly hired Buck Showalter to be their next manager.
New York Yankees (64-36) at Cleveland Indians (42-59), 7:05 p.m.
With Alex Rodriguez still on the verge of reaching one of baseball's most exclusive milestones, the New York Yankees will wrap up a four-game series with the Cleveland Indians tonight at Progressive Field.
Atlanta Braves (58-42) at Washington Nationals (43-58), 12:35 p.m.
The Atlanta Braves shoot for a series win this afternoon when they play the rubber match of their three-game series with the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park.
Recap: Tampa Bay vs. Detroit
Carlos Pena went 3-for-4 with a home run and drove in all of Tampa Bay's runs, as the Rays completed a four-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers with a 4-2 victory.
Phillies put Victorino on DL, call up Domonic Brown
The Philadelphia Phillies have placed outfielder Shane Victorino on the 15-day disabled list and selected the contract of prized outfield prospect Domonic Brown from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Tribe pitcher Talbot leaves game
Cleveland Indians starter Mitch Talbot left Thursday's game against the Yankees with an undisclosed injury.
A-Rod worried about payments to ex-Rangers players
Alex Rodriguez filed an objection to aspects of next week's auction of the Texas Rangers, saying he and other former players may not get the millions owed them.
Florida Marlins (50-51) at San Francisco Giants (58-44), 3:45 p.m.
Buster Posey tries to match a San Francisco rookie record by hitting in his 22nd straight game this afternoon, while fellow rookie Madison Bumgarner shoots for a fifth straight win when the San Francisco Giants complete a four-game series with the Florida Marlins at AT&T Park.
Surging Twins approach trade deadline usual way
The All-Star break was a welcomed rest for the Minnesota Twins. It was also quite the revival.
Recap: San Diego vs. Los Angeles
Jerry Hairston Jr. drove in three runs and Clayton Richard was solid in six innings on the mound, as the San Diego Padres took down the Los Angeles Dodgers, 6-1, in the middle installment of a three- game set from Petco Park.
Recap: Philadelphia vs. Arizona
Wilson Valdez helped Philadelphia celebrate its acquisition of pitcher Roy Oswalt with a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning, as the Phillies completed a three-game sweep and won their eighth consecutive game with a 3-2 win over Arizona.
Recap: NY Mets vs. St. Louis
Albert Pujols drove in the go-ahead run with a single in the top of the 13th inning, as the St. Louis Cardinals snuck past the New York Mets, 8-7, in the second test of a three-game series from Citi Field.
Orioles send Tejada to Padres
The Baltimore Orioles on Thursday traded veteran infielder Miguel Tejada and cash considerations to the San Diego Padres in exchange for right-hander Wynn Pelzer.
Los Angeles Dodgers (54-47) at San Diego Padres (59-40), 6:35 p.m.
Mat Latos attempts to win his seventh straight decision this evening, when the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers close out a three-game series at Petco Park.
St. Louis Cardinals (56-45) at New York Mets (51-50), 12:10 p.m.
First-half phenom R.A. Dickey hopes to regain his lost momentum when the New York Mets host the St. Louis Cardinals today in the finale of a three-game midweek series at Citi Field.
Oswalt traded to Phillies
The Houston Astros reportedly have a deal in place to send starting pitcher Roy Oswalt to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Rangers place Kinsler on DL
The Texas Rangers placed All-Star second baseman Ian Kinsler on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left groin among several roster moves made by the club on Thursday.
Oakland Athletics (51-49) at Texas Rangers (59-42), 8:05 p.m.
After coming through with a much-needed victory on Wednesday, the Oakland Athletics will try to gain further ground on the American League West-leading Texas Rangers when the divisional rivals wrap up a three-game series tonight at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
Recap: Kansas City vs. Baltimore
Ty Wigginton hit two sacrifice fly balls, including the game-winner in the 11th, helping the Baltimore Orioles snap a five-game losing streak with a 6-5 win over the Kansas City Royals.

tug against their ribbons on a breezy day,And barbershop quartets harmonize in the good old summertime.

I AM SO GRATEFUL for a stroll through the park.Skateboards hum as they roll down the sidewalk,Live music fills the air at an outdoor concert,Shrieks erupt when a Little Leaguer hits his first home run,And hands clap in unison to the beat of the band.

I AM SO GRATEFUL for relaxing under an oak tree.A bird's sweet song murmurs in my ears,Children's laughter drifts through the air,Before dozing off for an afternoon siestaI think to myself, "It's a wonderful world."

Excerpted from "Gratitude Works: Open Your Heart to Love" by Katherine Scherer and Eileen Bodoh.

Katherine Scherer and Eileen Bodoh are authors of "Gratitude Works: Open Your Heart to Love." http://www.gratitudeworks.com