Winter Waiting

We've passed the winter solstice and the days are getting longer but they're also getting colder. It's been well below freezing all week. 14 degrees when I woke up this am. Nothing to do for the hives but watch them from our warm house and read beekeeping books and journals.
I've been brushing the snow away from the bottom board from time to time and I see dead bees on the snow and the board but I'm hoping it's within the normal range. My bee encyclopedia says that the hive population drops by several thousand bees over the fall and early winter. I can't remember when the nadir is: Jan or Feb? I think the queen is supposed to start laying at a slow rate now and gradually pick up over the next couple of months. We'll see how things went when I check on them in early spring (March?). I've got frames of banked honey ready to go if they run low on food but right now the cold is the limiting factor.
I think I'll need to make a run to Tate's next month for a few things: new bottom boards and maybe a new pair of gloves. I'll need to get the boards painted by March or so. That'll give me something to do!