Can there ever be too many holidays?

Just returned from our Monday morning hike where I found out that today was another Panamanian holiday.  November is chock full of them (not that I mind one bit) and many of the stores were closed for the day.  Kind of put a kabosh on Dennis going to David for some roofing supplies, but he didn't seem to mind too much.  Banks, schools,  and government offices were shut down as was the utility company and our favorite hardware store for paint.  Others remained open and it seems that participation is optional when it comes to being abierto(open) or cerrado(closed)
  I kind of had an inkling of a few of the holidays celebrated this month, but somehow this one escaped me.  My take on this is that people here work very hard, especially the people who are the really physical workers.  People put in long, hot hours, sometimes for little pay, and holidays are a nice break to gather with friends and family, throw a fiesta and catch a parade or two.  And after all, who doesn't like a day off?  Nobody is going to get a snow day here.  For those of you interested, here is a run down of holidays just for the month of November.
Nov. 3 - Independence Day
Nov. 5- Colon Day
Nov. 10 (but celebrated today on the 11th) Shout in Villa de Los Santos
Nov. 25 Independence from Spain (day off)
Nov. 28 Independence from Spain
Any holiday that lands on a Sunday automatically is celebrated on Monday for a nice long weekend.  And according to my spanish teacher, the celebrations will last from 25th to the 30th. with people coming from all over Panama to Boquete to celebrate.  Can you say, "Cervesa, por favor?"
I'm beginning to feel a shift in the weather with little breezes in the morning foretelling of the tradewinds that are soon to arrive.  We've had a few days of sunshine with no rain, and so I think the rainy season is dwindling.  With this incentive, I got busy the other day planting a few things around the yard.  I put in a papaya tree and 2 other trees that I don't know the names of.  One has beautiful red and green leaves with yellow stripes and the other has upside down trumpet looking flowers that come in a variety of colors.  Also planted some climbing vines along the fence to eventually hide the chain link, several other bushes and got a start on my herb garden with some lemon balm and basil.  Lesia gave us cuttings from her garden, (check out the pic of a small part of her gardens)  but I also found a few 'must haves' along our hike this morning and grabbed those as well.  FYI, don't grab bougainvillea branches with your bare hands.  They have huge thorns. There will be blood.  Got most everything in so they can take root before the winds dry things out  and blow them away.  (Hoping to give my good friend, Deb some competition in the planting department.)
Spanish lessons are on break for a week or two, while Evelyn begins building on her new home.  I've posted some pics of Evelyn and Henry, who co-teach the class and are wonderfully patient with my efforts.  I can't wait for classes to start up again.  Wish I could close my eyes, and when they open, I would be fluent.  Sadly, it doesn't work that way and I am having to put in at least an hour a day to see any real progress.
Check out the thai lemons Lesia is holding.  Also the beautiful murals she has in her entry area to the house.  Jim is on the steps with Dennis 'supervising' the plant selections.  HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY TO ALL WHO SERVED AND ARE SERVING NOW.