Comb on the outside of the hive

This evening we enjoyed some dinner with our friends and neighbors, D and Robin. Jamie had gone back to the house to do some work on the garden and came back over to tell me that there was something going on with one of my hives. (the one that seemed to have a swarm underneath)
Donning my gear I took the hive apart.
For several days I didn't see much activity at the front of this particular hive. There is a crack at the rear which I know bees had been using for an entrance, but the activity at either of these entrances was too low to indicate that there were very many bees here. Looking at the beautiful comb I found on the bottom, outside the hive body I can see why there wasn't activity at the entrances.

I shook off the majority of the bees and set about determining the severity of the situation.

As I was looking at the comb that the bees built under the hive I spotted the Queen - thank God she was marked with her blue dot or I'd not have seen her. She was on the outside of the hive, and she'd been busy - I estimate that there were at least 25 capped brood cells and at least 100 uncapped larvae in several stages of growth. There was no way to save this larvae, so it's currently in our freezer so I can show it to our neighbor kids. Both Jamie and I were profoundly sad at the loss we experienced.  We did, however, really like seeing a full super of 8 frames of capped honey!

Once the comb was removed from the bottom board and the Queen was back in the hive I put it together and hoped I didn't squish the Queen (like I'm sure I did last year). I hope that this setback doesn't reduce the health or vitality of this hive. It would be a shame to lose another hive (that would make three).

I am thankful I didn't get stung and appreciated that I Jamie to help take pictures. Normally I have to do that by myself...and having someone around made everything so much easier!