Mattie On The Homefront

Cheap Spangles and All Very Skimpy - Fashion of 1942 - [Nov 4, 1942]

Snowfall Studio — Tue, 26 May 2026 06:00:00 -0500

We are joined by our first ever guest, Amy Kirkpatrick, sewist and designer, who breaks down one of Mattie's big passions - fashion, sewing, crafts, and making. We learn so much about clothing in 1942 - what's regulated and what's not, what's in fashion and what's not, and what's available and what's not.

In family news, everyone is worried, with no news from Bud for the past month. Mattie is feeling a bit lonesome, but is so very proud of Ken.

Plus, a survey of the movies currently out that Mattie is not going to see.

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Links:

LIFE Magazine (April, 1942)
Sew for Victory
Make Do and Mend
Claire McCardell (Blackbird Spyplane)
Pop-Over Dress (The Met)
Logo photo: Betty Grable at Fort Bragg (1942)

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Characters This Week:

Bud (stepson)
Chuck Giertsen (Ken's best friend)
Florence (Wes' wife)
Glad Gennrich (friend)

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Website: moth.family

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Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

We Had The Usual Amount of Good Time - [Nov 1, 1942]

Snowfall Studio — Tue, 19 May 2026 15:58:56 -0500

November has arrived, along with a big storm up at the cabin. But they manage to get up through the snow, and put the cabin to rest for the winter.

Back in the Twin Cities, Mattie is volunteering, gambling and listening to football, but not all at the same time.

Plus, we get to know a few more friends, and hear about upcoming Christmas boxes.

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Characters This Week:

Ruby Moe (neighbor and Ken's Latin teacher)
Gwen (Ken's cousin) & George (Gwen's fiancé)
Bob & Glad Gennrich (friends)
The Giertsen's (friends)

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Website: moth.family

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Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

Put Away So Carefully We Couldn't Find It - [Oct 26, 1942]

Snowfall Studio — Wed, 13 May 2026 10:39:34 -0500

It's only October, but in a cold year, and winter is settling in. The temps are dropping, the car needs winterizing, the tires need vulcanizing, and Wes can't be relied on to get that done.

Mattie is trying to sleuth out where Ken is stationed (spoiler: Prince Rupert - the rainiest city in Canada), and is pretty sure she's got it.

Also, Mattie buys a new suit, so we speculate on what material she would have picked, and how she felt about the ecosystem of department stores in downtown St. Paul.

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Characters This Week:

Wes (eldest son)
Gram (mom)
Gennrich's (friends from Minneapolis)
Aunt Martha (aunt-in-law)

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Website: moth.family

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Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

You too can look like this after 20 months in the Army - [Oct 20, 1942]

Snowfall Studio — Wed, 06 May 2026 10:51:30 -0500

This week, we wrap up several ongoing sagas (the watch! the mouse!) as we learn about the Rickety-Rackety Bridge, and shoot a partridge first thing.

We also learn a lot about Mattie's pastor, Joseph Simonson, and the future he will have, many years after he presides over the funeral of Matt's Uncle Berndt.

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Characters This Week:

Uncle Berndt (uncle-in-law)
Aunt Martha (aunt-in-law)
Pastor Joseph Simonson
Gram (mother)

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Website: moth.family

Get notified about new episodes

––––

Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

You May Have Cousins That You Don't Know About - [Oct 8, 1942]

Snowfall Studio — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:36:32 -0500

This week, Mattie has feelings, and they're pretty blue. The reality of Ken's departure is hitting her enough to mention it. So she writes him a letter to tell him what she's been up to all week, day-by-day.

Plus, one of the most mysterious figures in our story, Mattie's eldest son Wes, takes center stage in our imagination this week as Steve opens up the possibility that he might have had kids we don't know about. There might be more of us just out there, not knowing each other!

We spend a lot of time on Wes and his wife, Flo, and how Mattie might have felt about them - TL;DR - much less charitable than her other son. And Steve has an interesting theory why.

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Characters This Week:

Grandma Mick (mother-in-law)
Uncle Berndt (uncle-in-law)
Wes (eldest son)
Flo (eldest son's wife)
Ruth Mae (stepdaughter)
Diane (step grandchild)

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Website: moth.family

Get notified about new episodes

––––

Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

Mattie Saves the Party - [Oct 5, 1942]

Snowfall Studio — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:19:30 -0500

While writing, Matt sees a car accident in front of the house. We update ourselves about the state of the war, and Mattie hosts a progressive dinner.

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Links:

Hermann Göring's Thanksgiving speech
Mayor LaGuardia says "no" to Christmas lights
Cardinals defeat Yankees in the World Series
American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers outline oil restrictions

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Website: moth.family

Get notified about new episodes

––––

Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

Mattie Breaks Into Her Own House - [Sept 27 & 28, 1942]

Snowfall Studio — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 10:43:59 -0500

A big, early snowstorm makes everyone remember the Armistice Day blizzard of 1940. Plus, a mouse gets loose in the cabin, and Mattie gets mad.

Out west, Ken leaves the United States, and never got his watch.

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Website: moth.family

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Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

Mattie's Record Fish, Ken's Departure - [Sept 14 & 20, 1942]

Snowfall Studio — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:33:12 -0500

Mattie turns 49! Does anyone celebrate? She also catches the biggest fish anyone in the family has yet caught.

Ken leaves Minnesota for the West, and we learn about the wicked (?) neighbors.

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Website: moth.family

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Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

Mattie and Ken - [September 1 & 4, 1942]

Snowfall Studio — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 11:48:00 -0500

Mattie is fishing when she is interrupted by the arrival of a letter from Ken.

We learn the state of the war, and the world, on Tuesday, September 1.

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Website: moth.family

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Links:

Fort Snelling (MNHS)
Fighting in Stalingrad video
Americans in Guadalcanal video
Japanese relocation to internment camps video

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Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

Welcome To: Mattie On The Homefront

Snowfall Studio — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 10:48:00 -0500

Hosts Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow introduce you to Mattie and her world of St. Paul, Minn during WWII.

Come be a part of our family, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

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Website: moth.family

Get notified about new episodes

––––

Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.