Thank you for your reply. We are in Windsor, Virginia. I have 3 mediums (8 frames) for brood (the two bottom ones are packed with open brood, closed brood, some honey and pollen. It seems to be a strong hive (I have little to compare to) and I am guessing there are fewer than 8 queen cells (I did not inspect the entire hive this time). All of the frames in the 3 (medium) brood boxes are covered with bees. The top or 3rd brood box is being drawn out with honey (every frame is being worked - It is a beautiful light honey. I added a queen excluder and 1 medium super just in case they go crazy with the cotton, however, I was not planning on taking any honey from that 3rd brood box....I figured they could use one full box for the winter. These girls are absolutely amazing to watch - My wife and I go out in the afternoon and just watch them going to and fro.
As a note, I saw three enormous beetles (about 1 inch long and .5" wide) with a yellow pattern on their back on the grass under the hive - have not ID's them yet.
Thanks again - I really appreciate your help -