This is a picture of the queen cage that I installed on Saturday, September 14th.  You can see how few bees there are at this point.  The gentleman I bought her from said she was laying in a great pattern and I had so hoped she would come out, get busy and save the hive.

This is a picture of where the hive sits now.  Empty and in our garage.  The queen came out, but the bee population kept dropping and I never did see eggs or larvae.  Maybe she came out and then died or was killed.  Maybe she came out, didn't like the hive and took off with the majority of the bees. (this last idea was suggested to me by the gentleman who sold her to me).  To make things worse, due to my schedule & the weather, I couldn't get out to the hive in time to take off the leftover honey.  It was all robbed out before I got into it.  Huge Bummer!

 

I was discouraged and sad immediately afterwards.  However...I know how much I have learned about beekeeping this year and am thankful for all the help I received from everyone.  I can't wait to get another package of bees in the Spring of 2014!