“Le temps a laissé son manteaux” is the title and first line of a famous french poem by Charles d”Orléans, it means “the season removed his coat”.  That is just what we’ve been seeing these last few days here in Albertville.  After nearly two weeks of rain and fog, the sun emerged on Sunday and has been shining all week.  This has not only brought warmer weather but opened up all the flowers, made the trees bud and leaf, made the hillsides ridiculously green and triggered the birds into obnoxiously loud songs.  It’s been fabulous!!!  

First day of sunshine after two weeks of rain and fog.

Every day the river has risen a few feet higher as more water comes from the snow melting in the high Alps.   The lower hills are dressed with so many different shades of green as different types of trees get their leaves interspersed with trees full of white blossoms (we are told these are wild cherry trees).  The transformation over week has been nothing less than spectacular.  

This unstoppable change and eclipse of color has brought a timely reminder to me as I struggle often to see any progress in myself with regards to comprehending, learning and speaking french.  Much of what one sees in the spring as far as the colors, flowers, grasses, trees, buds, new leaves have all been growing, preparing, progressing in the various plants in places where it cannot be seen to the human eye.  It happens undercover until it burst forth with life, color, promise, renewal.  Cold and rainy days may delay spring from coming early but it comes all the same.  God has used these changes in the season to remind me that while much of what I’m doing to learn french now is very undercover, it’s all in my head, but one day it will all come out in tangible ways.  Ah, the hope of spring strikes again!

Continuing on in the poem of Charles d’ Orléans it says:  

Il n’y a bête, ni oiseau                                   There is neither animal or bird

Qu’en son jargon ne chante ou crie             That does not tell in it’s own tongue

Le temps a laissé son manteau                     The season removed his coat 

Here’s a few pictures from around us of each plant telling in it’s own tongue that spring is here..

 I hope “the season removed his coat” where you are as well and that you are able to enjoy the beauty and wonder of this time of year.