None of my M27 have been real productive. I've done much better with full dwarf (B9/G11/G16), than mini-dwarf. I think M27 could be good, but only if you pay very close attention to it. Very few of my apples set very well this past year (on any rootstock). Only the Priscilla had a decent crop, about the same size as the year before, even though I had grafted over the upper portion. The apples from it were pretty good too- I'm not planning on grafting over the rest of it anymore. HGG would have had a good crop (see below). Sundance also had a moderate crop (1st time in year #3), with most others (including Goldrush and WIlliam's Pride, smaller in year #4 than in #3) having small crops. Some of it could be letting them bear too early. I thinned quite a bit, but more would probably have helped. While they are all well staked and mulched, I haven't watered them very much. I should probably give them a couple more good soakings during the dry parts of July. I got 5 in 2011 from Raintree: Ashmead's Kernel- never leafed out, but a single bud from the graft union did grow. After a year, I transplanted it back into a pot, which I later replanted after it yielded 2 apples and I verified that it wasn't just rootstock. Enterprise- looked like it had a good root system when I planted it, but it never leafed out. Akane- 3 apples in 2013 (3rd year) and probably a couple more last year. Hudson's Golden Gem- It has set big crops the last two years. In 2013, all but one of the dozen+ apples cracked and rotted. In 2014, I lost most of the ~20 apples to animals. The 3 I picked were very good. Red Boskoop- This is the biggest M27. Maybe 7.5' tall, it seems like a good size to me. It has been covered with blooms the last 2 years, but hasn't ripened a single apple. There were a few which made it into summer, but none made it all the way.

md, I agree with your experience of store-bought apples, which have been chemically thinned and irrigated. I would also point out that it's a rare store-bought apple that can compare with a well grown apple that has been picked at perfection and properly stored. Many get better after a week or two in a cool basement. Apple trees work really hard. By thinning them, you give them a fairer chance at a long, productive life. In years when we missed thinning (stuff happens), the apples made very little new foliar growth. We grow organically, with proper pruning and thinning very effectively taking the place of sprays. It's less about fruit size than growing healthy, well-balanced trees.

Suzie, I'm not able to offer much help in the dessert category but I can tell you that if I were your neighbor, I'd love to come for a little dessert, but I would most definitely appreciate something 'not sweet' and 'not dessert'. That's just me, and maybe I'm not alone. Personally, I like a little something sweet once in a while, but not too much and not too often. So, I'd be delighted to come to your party for the friendship and camaraderie, but I'd be really happy if you had something simple like chips and salsa to offer also. (Doesn't need to be a lot or anything fancy, just something to cut the sweetness.) One of my favorite savory 'cookie' is: BLUE CHEESE WALNUT BITES (BHG 2000) 1-1/2 cups all purpose flour 2-3 teaspoons cracked black pepper 8 ounces blue cheese 1/4 cup butter 1 cup chopped walnuts 2 egg yolks, slighty beaten In a medium mixing bowl combine flour and pepper. Using a pastry blender cut in cheese and butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add walnuts and egg yolks. Stir until combined. Form the mixture into a ball; knead until combined. Divide dough in half. shape each half into a log about 9 inches long. Wrap logs in plastic wrap, chill at least 2 hours. Preheat oven to 425* Cut each log into 1/4 inch thick slices. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until bottoms and edges are golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temp. Store tightly covered. Something else that is seasonal and easy and all you need is some chips or crackers with it: Posted by: Elvis (My Page) on Tue, Dec 3, 02 at 21:45 Here's a stunning looking, easy-easy dip. Almond Pinecones: 1 1/4 c. Almonds 8 oz. cream cheese, softened 1/4 c. mayo 10 bacon slices, crisp and crumbled (fake will NOT do) 2 T. minced green onion 3/4 t. dill weed 1/4 t. freshly ground pepper, any color Roast almonds till slightly browned (VERY slightly). Combine all other ingredients and chill several hours or overnight. Form the dough into 1 pinecone shaped (flat on serving platter side) mounds. Starting at pointy end of cone place overlapping almonds in a scaly fashion to make them resemble cones. Garnish top ends of cones with pine, if available in your area. Simply adorable, and delicious. Serve with crackers. Very seasonable. Tip: Don't store with the almonds in place for more than several hours, as they will become soggy from the dip.

If they give you the pitocin, get the epidural. I didn't want the epidural but after a while, the pain left me no choice. They gave me another drug before the epidural and all it did was calm the contractions - prolong labor for a what seemed an eternity. Depending on how much they give you, Pit, as others have said here, can be very very uncomfortable. DD was 10lbs and wouldn't stay turned. There was talk of a C-section but she eventually decided it was time to say Hi. The trend is to walk a lot even with pit and contractions going at the same time. That will help, but it can be rough too. I've never heard of any fetal distress from the pit but you and the baby will be monitored. Unless you have a strong coach, I wouldn't try the pit without the epidural or some other paid meds. You will wear yourself out - and you want to have all of your strength to hold that beautiful bundle of joy!! Congratulations and best wishes. Babies are such a joy, and bring you so much fun and love. gneegirl