Country Living Connoisseurs

Sweet BombDiggity Farms

Pull up a chair. Around here, we believe in second chances, simple joys, and the power of building a life that feels like home—wherever you are. The Country Living Connoisseur newsletter lands in your inbox every other Thursday with behind-the-scenes glimpses from Sweet Bombdiggity Farms, honest reflections on the wins and the mess, and the tools, prompts, and inspiration to help you get unstuck and start designing a life you love—one bloom, one bite, one bold step at a time.

Sweet BombDiggity Farms

Country Living Connoisseurs

Hi friends—We’re Lane and Jules Morris, the caretakers of Sweet Bombdiggity Farms in East Tennessee. Our #FarmingAfter50 journey is about living a life rich in creativity, community, and purpose. Sweet Bombdiggity Farms is where we nurture gardens, craft small-batch products, and provide a sanctuary for rescues—a dream come to life.

As country living connoisseurs, we believe that the essence of country living can be felt anywhere, whether on a farm or in the city. We focus on creating spaces, content, and experiences that uplift both people and animals.

Join us in this journey—where practical tips, inspiring stories, weekly devotionals, and tools to help you design your own dreams are part of the experience. Be part of a community that values creativity, purposeful living, and the joy of living the BombDiggity life, wherever you are.

Now that’s BombDiggity!

Recent Blog Posts

Farming After 50

Farm Sunday

#FarmSunday Devotional: What It Takes to Be a True Friend

What does it take to be a true friend? This week we find out from John and Gaius

Recipes & Preservation

Strawberry Jam with Brylee Jo 🍓 A Little Lemon, a Lot of Love

My granddaughter Brylee Jo and I had fun in the kitchen today, cooking up a big batch of strawberry jam—and it turned out BombDiggity.

Country Living

Traveling with Sourdough

✈️ Off to London with sourdough we go! Lane and I are heading across the pond to teach for the next few weeks, and we’d love for you to follow

Farm Sunday

FarmSunday Devotional: God Works for Good

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. — Romans 8:28 (NIV) Life

Farm Sunday

#FarmSunday – The Goodness of God

The Goodness of God: I’m the kind of person who always double-checks the weather before heading out. It’s a habit—whether I’m planting in the garden, packing for a trip, or

Phtoto of bear the chocolate lab looking at the camera

Farm Life & Animals

Something About an Old Dog

Meet Bear. There’s something about an old dog. Bear is 11 now—a big, 100-pound chocolate lab with a heart even bigger. My sweet friend Christi and I took a road

Farm Channel

When your chickens can’t free-range because of predators… you get creative. 🐓🌱I grow fresh fodder every week for my flock—but I wanted something more permanent that could live right inside their run. So we built these custom grazing frames using 2x4s, hardware wire, and rich soil, then planted fast-growing, chicken-safe greens like wheatgrass, oat grass, barley, and rye. The hardware cloth lets the greens grow through while keeping those curious beaks from destroying the roots—so the greens keep coming back! 👏This is still an experiment, but I really think it’s going to work. I’ll keep y’all posted as it grows. ‼️ Tip: Don’t use basic lawn grass seed unless you’re certain it’s chemical-free. 🌱Fresh snacks, no digging, and happy hens? Now that’s Bombdiggity! 🐓——#ChickenCoopHack #BackyardChickens #FreshForTheFlock #FarmingAfter50 #ChickenFodder #CountryLivingConnoisseur #SweetBombdiggityFarms

If your chickens can’t free range, try this! #chickenlove #chickenkeeping #chickencoop

When life brings a bluebird through the ashes… you gently set it free! #farmrescue #bluebird

#FarmSunday Devotional: What It Takes to Be a True Friend

3 John 1:2 (MSG)
“The Pastor, to my good friend Gaius: How I truly love you! We’re the best of friends, and I pray for good fortune in everything you do, and for your good health—that your everyday affairs prosper, as well as your soul!”

Some seasons of life make friendship harder than others. People move. Schedules fill up. Priorities shift. It’s easy for connections to go quiet without even realizing it. But lately, I’ve been thinking about how much we still need real friendship—deep, lasting relationships where we show up for each other with grace, honesty, forgiveness, and love that doesn’t wear out.

In the short book of 3 John, we see a beautiful glimpse of this kind of true friendship. The Apostle John writes to his dear friend Gaius—not to correct him, not to teach a lesson, but simply to encourage him and bless him. Gaius, whose name means “happy” or “rejoicing,” is someone John clearly loves deeply. It’s not flashy or dramatic—it’s just full of kindness, respect, and faith. And in those few verses, we see what it really looks like to love a friend well.

Over and over in John’s letters, we’re reminded of Jesus’s command to love each other, to forgive freely, and to live sacrificially. That same heart comes through in this personal letter. What John writes to Gaius gives us a powerful example of what biblical friendship can look like—and what it takes to be a friend who loves like Jesus.

John’s words show us that a true friend expresses agape love. That’s the highest form of love—selfless, unconditional, and enduring. It’s not about liking someone when they’re at their best or agreeing with them on everything. Agape love says, “I see you, I know you’re not perfect, and I’m here anyway.” It’s the kind of love that stays.

John also prays for Gaius—not just for his faith, but for his health and for everything in his life to go well. It’s such a tender, thoughtful thing. A good friend prays over the big things and the small things. They lift up your name when you’re weary and bless your path even when you don’t ask them to.

There’s something else in John’s letter that stuck with me—he encourages Gaius in his faith. He acknowledges that this journey isn’t easy. That staying faithful is a process with ups and downs. And that Gaius’s persistence matters. Good friends do that. They remind you of what’s true, especially when your heart forgets.

And finally, John celebrates his friend’s character. He calls out the ways Gaius has shown hospitality and served others. He doesn’t just notice it quietly—he says it. That’s something we don’t do often enough: affirm one another. Let the people we love know that the way they live, love, and give matters.

So this week, I’m thinking about that kind of friendship. The kind that John and Gaius shared. And I’m asking myself—am I that kind of friend?

Do I love people with grace, even when they don’t get it right?
Do I pray for them behind the scenes?
Do I encourage their faith when the road gets hard?
Do I bring out the best in them and tell them when I see it?

It’s easy to look around and feel like close friendship is rare. But maybe the invitation this week isn’t just to find that kind of friend—but to be one.

Because friendship rooted in Jesus is more than a comfort—it’s a calling. And if you’re reading this and thinking, “I want that,”—you’re not alone. Let’s start by loving one another like John did. With joy. With prayer. With truth. And with a kind of faith that says, I’m in this with you, no matter what.

Now that’s BombDiggity.

#devotional #SweetBombdiggityFarms #FarmingAfter50 #CountryLivingConnoisseur #3john

#FarmSunday Devotional: What it takes to be a true friend #3john #devotional #biblestudy

I peeled 24 farm fresh eggs and made a batch of deviled eggs in just 34 minutes—without losing my mind or the egg whites. 🙌 https://tr.ee/bv1yEw-yKb

The secret? The Negg. This little gadget is a game changer for chicken mamas everywhere. I linked it in my bio if you’re ready to stop dreading egg peeling!

I get asked this a lot:
“Why are farm fresh eggs so hard to peel?”
It’s because they haven’t had time to develop the air pocket that forms in older eggs, which makes them easier to peel. That tight membrane? Brutal. But trust me—fresh eggs are worth it. They’re tastier, more nutritious, and way prettier with those golden yolks.

Here’s how I hard boil mine:

Bring water to a boil.
Add eggs gently.
Turn off the heat, cover, and let sit for 15 minutes.
Then into an ice bath they go! Chill completely before using the Negg. Add water, shake, peel, done.

Your deviled eggs just got a whole lot easier—and a whole lot prettier.
#FarmingAfter50 #SweetBombdiggityFarms #CountryLivingConnoisseur #FarmFreshEggs #ChickenMamaTips #DeviledEggHack #NeggPeeler #EggPeelingMadeEasy

Why are farm fresh eggs so hard to peel and my favorite gadget that makes it easy! #farmfresheggs

Country Living Connoisseur Newsletter Coming August 2025! Priority list starting now!

Strawberry Jam with Brylee Jo 🍓 A Little Lemon, a Lot of Love

My granddaughter Brylee Jo and I had fun in the kitchen today, cooking up a big batch of strawberry jam—and it turned out BombDiggity. We put our own spin on it, giving it a hint of lemon to brighten it up and added the sugar first to soften the berries—it worked like a charm.

Here’s how we made it:

Ingredients:
– 3 lbs strawberries (about 5 cups mashed)
– 7 cups sugar
– 1 tablespoon lemon juice
– A little lemon rind (zest to taste)
– 1 box Sure-Jell (yellow box)

What We Did:
1. We hulled and mashed the strawberries until we had about 5 cups.
2. In a big pot, we mixed the strawberries and sugar first and let it sit a few minutes while we zested the lemon.
3. Then we added the lemon juice and lemon rind, turned the heat on, and brought everything to a full rolling boil—stirring constantly.
4. Once boiling, we added the pectin and kept it going at a hard boil for one minute (you want that bubbling action you can’t stir down).
5. We removed it from heat, skimmed off any foam, and ladled it into sterilized jars.
6. We sealed the jars using ForJars lids and rings—and y’all, they’re amazing. These lids seal beautifully, they’re extra sturdy, and we’ve never had a fail.

We love ForJars for their reliability and tight seal—you can feel the quality. They’ve got a big July 4th sale going on, and if you use code BOMBDIGGITY you’ll save an extra 10%. Now that’s worth preserving.

We processed the jars in a water bath for 10 minutes. Done and delicious. It made a beautiful set and tastes like sunshine in a jar. We’ve can’t wait to eat some on biscuits, but Brylee and I did try it straight from the spoon—just to be sure it was perfect. It was.

https://sweetbombdiggityfarms.com/strawberry-jam-with-brylee-jo-a-little-lemon-a-lot-of-love/

Strawberry Jam with a twist—RECIPE #strawberryjam #farmingafter50 #countrylivingconnoisseur

Some of the hardest parts of farm life never make it into the highlight reel. One of my first sweet hens is fading, and I’ve done everything I know to do. She’s been loved, pampered, and treasured from day one. And now… it’s just time to hold her close and let her go gently.

This is the part of the life we chose that hurts. But it’s also the part that reminds me why we do it: to love well, even when it’s hard. That kind of love? It’s always worth it.

Well done, good and faithful girl. You were loved and you will be missed.

#FarmingAfter50 #SweetBombdiggityFarms #CountryLivingConnoisseur #ChickenLove #BackyardChickens #DesignTheLifeYouLove #RealFarmMoments #NowThatsBombdiggity

Not Every Day on the Farm Is Easy #farmlife #farmloss

This sunflower didn’t ask for perfect conditions—it just showed up, bloomed big, and turned its face to the sun. ☀️

📅 Maybe that’s your reminder today: you don’t need the perfect plan or the perfect place. Just start.

Even in the compost 💩, life finds a way. 🌼

#countrylivingconnoisseur #farmingafter50
#DesignTheLifeYouLove #sunflower

Grow Where You’re Planted—Even in the Poop #farmingafter50 #countrylivingconnoisseur #lifelesson

#FarmSunday Devotional : Because of Jesus, we are called: “Children of God”

1 John 3:1 says, “Oh what marvelous love the Father has extended to us through Jesus Christ. Just look at it—we are called children of God. That’s who we really are.” (The Message)

Our spiritual identity is rooted not in what we do, but in who we belong to—and that’s made possible through Jesus Christ. When we say “yes” to Him, we’re welcomed into God’s family—not as strangers, but as beloved children.

And being called His children is just the beginning.

As His children, we grow to recognize who Jesus is. We care about what He’s doing.

We have confidence that He hears our prayers.

We walk without fear, because our Father watches over us.

We draw near and call Him “Abba.”

We carry the promise that we are heirs to His kingdom. We love because He first loved us.

And we live with hope—knowing that eternal life is ours.

So this week, don’t just know it. Celebrate and rejoice thru faith with in Jesus Christ: You are a child of God.

Pass on the Good News! Now that’s BombDiggity!

#devotional #biblestudy #1John3 #bibletok #childofgod #SweetBombdiggityFarms #FarmingAfter50 #CountryLivingConnoisseur

#FarmSunday Devotional We are called Children or God #1john3 #devotional #biblestudy

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We are often asked “What do you use?” so we built a storefront as a resource to our community. Here you can easily snag some of our favorite farm and garden items or find inspiration for the perfect gift – every single thing listed in our store we own and use.

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That's southern for "Reach out anytime." We love hearing from you!

Our Why

Let's start with "BombDiggity"

BombDiggity [bäm-dig-it-ee] (adj.) 1) Awesomeness in its purest form. 2) Incredible, beyond anything you could imagine. awesome, wonderful and way cool. 3) Complete awesomeness to its fullest extent.

Our farm name says it all and our WHY starts here — We want to build the sweetest of BombDiggity lives wrapped around 5 simple C’s.

Commitment

Deepening dedication to faith, family, friends, fields, and farm animals

Creativity

Cultivating success for others, inspiring change, crafting solutions.

Community

Forging bonds that inspire, encourage and uplift each other on a shared journey.

Compassion

Extending care and offering refuge and rescue that heals both body and spirit

Celebration

Celebrating agriculture, animals, community and the adventures of "Farming After 50"