Looking at this picture I captured, where do you think I am? Perhaps you might say a temple in India or an island of Indonesia. What if I told you this intricate example of architecture can be found less than a two-hour car ride in Mercer County?

Welcome to BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Robbinsville, New Jersey.

Clipping an article from The Record newspaper months ago, the intention was a future visit. With so many obligations tugging from all directions of late, both personal and professional, I was in dire need of a mental break, even if for a few hours. A change of scenery can not only refresh but uplift and assuage. My decision was made.

I skimmed the website before embarking on the road, noting hours and respectable requests for a visit to the Hindu temple. Even though I had seen a few pictures, I really wasn't sure what to expect. 

After an hour and a half, at the entrance gate I was greeted by a gracious man, delighted to welcome my first visit. Eagerly directing me around the circle to the right, he hoped I would enjoy enough to return again soon. Teeming within me was this great feeling to know this was the perfect place to be for the moment.

My stride was slow and deliberate for there was so much to see! It is absolutely exquisite, a true masterpiece of Indian design and workmanship. All in Italian Carrara marble, the intricate carvings have so much depth and detail, it takes time to digest. Whether visitors participate in Hindu rituals or learn about the world’s oldest living faith, all are welcome to experience personal pursuit for their own purpose at their own pace.

Inside the temple visitors are required to remove their shoes. There are separate cubicles for storing them during your stay as well as scarves should one need to cover bare shoulders or midriffs. In Sanskrit, Mandir means "a place where the mind becomes still and experiences inner peace". Once my bare feet touched the floor, I felt immediate comfort for the marble was not cold as expected but smooth and warm, inviting me to step in and explore the divine shrines and majestic intricacies ahead.

Photographs are strictly prohibited inside the Mandir, but we were allowed the opportunity to capture images in the spaces around and outside. Every surface heralded beauty. I kept looking up!

All individual pieces were carved at the workshops in India, then assembled to ensure a proper and accurate fit. Using a system developed by on-site engineers, they were all subsequently numbered, disassembled and carefully packed before being shipped to New Jersey. Each stone traveled a distance of 21,500 miles.

I loved the mosaic floor and mural stations inside the Mandir. Since I was unable to photograph them, here is a sampling from the Creative Edge Master Shop.

The beautiful carvings and images are not only aesthetically appealing, but also significant. The ninety eight pillars depict the lives of the great spiritual aspirants. Their inspiring stories, as well as Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s key messages are incorporated throughout the Mandir.

Amid such majesty, I felt awe, joy, hope, peace. Renewal of spirit can absolutely be experienced in a place here where all are welcome... xoxo-Sonya

Well, Friday is the official first day of autumn. All the glorious bright colors of summer are being toasted and tumbled into warmer shades of pumpkin and sienna. Citrus flavors are now replaced with cinnamon and spice. But I still savor recollections of delicious sweet treats from this summer enjoyed by family and friends during lazy afternoons on the deck and late night treats. 

One very easy dessert can either be made with store-bought angel food cake or two layers of simple vanilla cake from a mix. I prepared two vanilla rounds, one large for the bottom and a smaller layer to place on top. A rainbow of cut fruit - strawberries, blackberries, kiwi, pineapple, peaches, cantaloupe and blueberries - cascade atop layers of fresh whipped cream, creating a light and flavorful treat, especially after a satisfying meal. For easy homemade whipped cream, simply whisk in a cold metal bowl 2 cups of cold heavy cream, 1/2 cup of confectioner's sugar and 1 tablespoon of pure vanilla extract. Beat on high speed until stiff peaks form, and immediately scoop out onto the cake with a spatula.

This cake needs to be devoured immediately after assembly for any left-overs will not keep in the fridge, becoming a soggy mess over time. Usually preparing this for larger dinner parties, the expectation is to consume every bite, and we did, many guests requesting seconds until the last slice disappeared.

The second big hit this summer was prepared during the last few weeks of August with a bounty of fresh peaches. Accustomed to always making fruit pies with fall favorites, I gingerly swapped the apples, and this time a winning slice was worth a wait.

This was my first try with peaches, and the result was swimming in an abundance of syrup out of the oven and throughout the first day! We needed to wait for a bit, but oh wow, what a delight! Using Martha Stewart's pate brisee recipe is a guaranteed win, but whenever I get lazy, Pillsbury pie crust does the trick in a jiffy. Sometimes semi-homemade is just as delicious. Either way, lattice top always makes a pretty presentation.

Ah, such sweet summer memories. My friends, I bid you adieu until we meet again... xoxo-Sonya

A simple flower, a wayward glance passing a shop window, art within the walls of a museum, any or all can subconsciously plant a seed in your brain. You never really recognize the inspiration until it manifests. Sometimes it is obvious, others are discovered after dipping deeper below the surface.

The glass colors I melted combined artfully as if on their own at my hand. Sometimes the intuitive process is quite simple and rests in just creating surface interest... xoxo-Sonya