“That buzzing noise means something. Now, the only reason for making a buzzing noise that I know of is because you are… a bee! And the only reason for being a bee is to make honey. And the only reason for making honey is so I can eat it.” – Winnie the Pooh
I am a terrible beekeeper.
Well… wait. Scratch that.
I am not a confident beekeeper.
I have kept my hives alive through a long, bitter cold winter; I have made a split that survived; and I have harvested good quantities of honey while leaving plenty for the bees.
That being said, I am always POSITIVE that the bees are dead and that I have killed them through neglect or stupidity or poor judgment, or some cocktail of all three.
So, when winter weather comes and the bees are nowhere to be seen, an insecure beekeeper can really get to feeling like The Great Honeybee Massacre has finally taken place.
I was out with the dogs earlier and decided to check.
Nothing to see here, folks!
At 26 degrees it was obviously way too cold to open the hives, and there is absolutely nothing to see from the outside. So, hive by hive, I pressed my ear against the main super to see if I could hear anything.
And I could.
In both hives.
That buzzing noise definitely means something.
applewood farm 
I, on the other hand, am a terrible beekeeper. Our hive boxes are empty and buzzless, the last surviving hive having expired last February for some still unknown reason. I used to press my ear to the boxes at least once a week for that reassuring buzz. I hope your ladies stay strong and healthy. We’ll probably try again next year.