Hi Jane!
The bees look fine to me. When I got my first 2 packages I lost a queen, but I doubt you did....Maybe you should look at the frame with the most bees on it. Thats what I did/do. Also, I have only seen a queen one time in all 5 of my hives since I started bees!
Once you see eggs and larva you'll find that it gets really easy to see them later. Even with a veil! The first time I saw them I was looking, and looking.....saw nothing...then, POW!!...There they all were! Right where I had been looking!
I use plastic foundation, just like you.Well, this year I got a bunch of black foundation as I wanted to build by own frames. Building frames, I thought, was intimidating when I started bees. Its a lot cheaper building frames AND VERY EASY! Just stick one together with glue and a few nails and just pop in the foundation.Once you've built one, you're an expert!
Oh,...I got black because its supposed to be easier to see the eggs and larva. I think that if you let the light get on the foundation just right you'll be able to see stuff better :)
Ok,....I gotta look at your blog some more..It sure is nice!
your friend,
john