Annecy Christmas & thrifted leather goodies teaser, plus then and now lake shots

Hubby's home after flying for a week, so this weekend we're in nesting mode. I have a slew of Christmasy photos I plan to take this week once he decompresses and we start venturing out, so for now this teaser will have to do. A river that runs out of Lac Annecy, which really looks like a canal, snakes through the old town where we live. Annecy is actually known as the Venice of France because of this lovely canal/river. In the summer, cafes along either side are brimming with noshing tourists, but now the bridges are all aglow with sparkly white lights. Isn't this a beautiful shot? Hubby takes the credit for this one.

IN THE FALL: Since the Christmasy pics are forthcoming, I thought I'd share a few then & now photos from a jaunt around the lake taken last month versus ones snapped a week or so ago. This concrete dock is part of a pay-only beach in the summer, but once the season closes they open the gates and let any one wander in. This is the view from the end of the dock looking back to land, with the casino on the right and a retro-looking resto straight ahead.

NOW: This one is from last week after the snow had arrived. As the sign says, there's a disco inside too. Mmm. I wonder if the French meaning of disco is the same as the English? It seems an unlikely place for a disco, but what do I know?

Looking out to the lake and the mountains beyond. I love how the concrete dock curves. You can just see a distant mountain with a gleaming patch of sunlight on its snowy peak.

THEN: Just a few weeks ago, the chairs and tables were still left out from the summer. I envisaged myself getting up every morning and strolling over with a cafe to read and bask in the sun. All the cafe patios are still open this time of year, and the French have no problems sitting outside drinking, and, of course, smoking (the latter is def the national pastime). That pole is part of a trampoline, I think.

NOW: Alas, this is one patio that has packed it in. Too bad I didn't discover it earlier in the Fall as it would have been a fave spot to hang out and dream.

THEN: Lovely potted Mums in old urns, in front of a commercial dock that, after it closes in the summer and the boat gets put to bed somewhere else, is a popular wedding photo spot.

NOW: The flowers are gone, and a mountain dressed in snow is the awe-inspiring backdrop.

THEN: That same mountain, taken from the concrete dock.

NOW: Walking home along the lakeside promenade with the sun setting against the mountain.

I don't have a then & now shot of this one but I just love this permanent carousel. Wonder if they allow grown-ups to take a spin? But then again, I get motion sickness, so it may not be pretty.

My "new" thrifted Italian-made leather boots with pull-on straps may pale in "wow" comparison to the lovely Annecy pics, but I was pretty jazzed as I've been looking for a boot with a bit of a heel, and after my recent Ugg purchase, I didn't want to pay full price (these were 18 Euro - yes, even thrifting in Annecy is relatively pricey). In fact my local thrift shop is becoming a leather handbag and boot haven - I have more from this haul to show you, once I can get organized and take some photos, along with some fab vintage Etsy purchases that I will show you once hubby takes some outfit snaps for me.

Since I haven't found an appropriate place where I can do an pre-timed outfit shot, we'll have to contend with the 'ole blurry-blogger-shot-in-the-mirror trick. I'm wearing the new booties with a cashmere sweater (bought new), a vintage Avon pendant that every vintage style blogger seems to have (which doesn't stop me from loving it), and a thrifted skirt I bought in Canada.

Have a great weekend! Are you ready for the holidays? xo