Happenings at the Hollow

December arrived at Thompson Hollow exactly the way it loves to—wasting no time at all. Snow showed up early, dusting everything in that quiet, magical way that makes you pause for a moment longer before heading back inside. It felt like nature’s reminder to slow down, reflect, and soak it all in.

This month also marked a really exciting milestone for us: our first successful market. Seeing Thompson Hollow out in the world, meeting new faces, reconnecting with familiar ones, and watching people truly connect with our products was incredibly rewarding. It was one of those moments when all the behind-the-scenes work felt worthwhile.

As the holidays approached, the support we received continued to amaze us. Orders went out to neighbors down the road and to customers far beyond our little corner of Vermont. Knowing Thompson Hollow found its way into homes near and far as gifts, self-care rituals, and everyday comforts meant more than we can say.

This past year brought growth, learning curves, long days, and small wins that added up to something really meaningful. We’re deeply grateful for every order, every kind message, every market conversation, and everyone who chose to support this dream.

Looking ahead, we’re entering 2026 with excitement and ambitious plans. It’s shaping up to be a milestone year personally as well—one with a big birthday on the horizon and Chris and I celebrating 15 years of marriage. It feels special to be building this business alongside so many meaningful life moments.

Thank you for being part of the Thompson Hollow story. We’re heading into the new year grateful, inspired, and ready for what’s next.

Here’s to cozy winters, continued growth, and a beautiful year ahead.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

January gets a bad rap.

The holidays are over, wallets are lighter, the scenery is… let’s call it emotionally beige, and suddenly every day feels like it lasts three weeks.  But behind the scenes here at Thompson Hollow, January has been anything but boring.  One of the biggest surprises this month was being featured in the Springfield Reporter. That one truly caught me off guard, in the best way. It was humbling, exciting, and a reminder that even in the quiet months, people are watching, supporting, and cheering on small local businesses like ours. I’m incredibly grateful.

January also meant celebrating Jack turning 9. Nine feels big. There was cake, laughter, and the kind of pause that reminds me why we do all of this in the first place.  We're building something meaningful while our kids are still little enough to be part of it and learn from.

On the creative side, this month has been full of experimenting and making. We’ve been working on: New body oils to help combat dry winter skin (because woodstove air is not kind), fresh simmer pot blends to bring a little life and warmth back into our homes.  And yes… a few surprises we’re saving for the final stretch of the month 

January might look dull outside—bare trees, muddy boots, gray skies—but it’s also a reset. A slower pace. A chance to plan, create, and quietly prepare for what’s next.

And speaking of what’s next… Valentine’s Day is right around the corner 

Whether you celebrate it big, small, or just use it as an excuse to make your house smell good and treat yourself, we’ve got some cozy, thoughtful ideas coming your way.

So here’s to January: A little boring. A little slow. But still full of growth, gratitude, and good things ahead.

Stay warm,

Gianna 

February felt like a deep exhale. After the rush of the holidays and the coldest stretch of winter, this month was calm, slow, and honestly… exactly what I needed. It was a time to step back, reset, and focus on creating instead of constantly running.

I spent a lot of time in the kitchen and workshop, experimenting and playing. There’s something really refreshing about being able to slow down and just make things. Bath bombs were a big focus this month (Jack was pretty happy). Lillian and I also started creating bookmarks, which has been such a fun and unexpected creative outlet. It’s been nice to mix herbal work with a little bit of art and beauty.

Tea sales were great this month(Thank you all so much!), and that has me really excited. I’ve been working behind the scenes on new iced tea blends and summer sun teas. I cannot wait to share these. Think refreshing, herbal, beautiful, and perfect for long summer days.

Now let’s talk about reels…

Because if you’ve seen them, you know they are basically a form of modern-day torture for me. 😂 Filming myself, talking to a camera, trying to be “natural” while feeling completely awkward? Not my comfort zone. But the silver lining is that it’s become a funny and special way to connect with Lillian. She helps, she laughs at me, and honestly, she’s way better at it than I am. So if you see me looking slightly uncomfortable in videos, just know there’s a child off camera directing the whole thing, killing my confidence and loving every minute of it.

Lastly, another exciting step this month: I signed up for a weekly spot at the Ludlow Farmers Market. I am so looking forward to being out in the community, hopefully meeting all of you in person, and sharing what I’ve been creating. There’s nothing better than face-to-face conversations, sampling teas, and connecting over herbs and natural living.

So in conclusion, while February may have looked quiet from the outside, it was full in all the best ways. Creative, peaceful, and restored.  Stay positive, everyone! Beautiful, warm days will be here soon enough!

-Gianna

March has been… a lot.  In the best and most chaotic small-business-owner, mom, wife, workaholic way.

This month has felt like a constant balancing act between preparing for what’s ahead and trying to stay grounded in what’s right in front of me. With Mother’s Day around the corner and the next two months already filling up, I’ve been deep in planning mode—making, organizing, restocking, and trying to stay one step ahead (or at least not five steps behind).

Behind the scenes, I’m still figuring out what it really means to run a small business. There’s so much more than creating products—like taxes… which, let’s be honest, are not fun in any aspect. But it’s all part of building something meaningful, and I’m learning as I go.

On the home front, life is just as full. We’re celebrating Lillian’s birthday, getting ready for Easter, and navigating good old Vermont mud season—which this year also came with a leaking basement (because why not add a little extra challenge?).

Somewhere in between, I’ve been rearranging the workshop to make it more functional and dreaming up this year’s garden—planning what to grow, what to expand, and how to make it all work with everything else going on.

It’s busy. It’s messy. It’s a little overwhelming at times. But it’s also really beautiful. This season feels like growth in every sense—business, home, and life. And even when things feel a little chaotic, I know it’s all building toward something good.

-Gianna