Mattie On The Homefront

Mattie is recovering from an excess of meetings by reading Better Homes & Gardens in bed. We try to guess which articles. Bud is sending personal effects home, in advance of being deployed. And Flo is avoiding coming over for dinner.

Plus we get an update on the state of the war, rationing, and national politics.

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Cover Image: Cover of Home And Gardens, February, 1943

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It's a February sort of letter - cold and dark, with some signs that the season is changing, but it's not here yet. This week, Mattie expresses a lot of concern (and love) for a lot of folks who are having a rough go of it at the moment - including a big update on Wes' finances.

For her part, Mattie is still struggling with the car, and an infection, but having fun going out to dinner.

For our part, we learn that Ken might have played the piano (??) and what the difference is between...

Wes is having terrible luck, Mattie is still doing lots of volunteering, and wood gas is a possible substitute for fuel oil. There's a lot happening at the end of January, including Mattie processing being an empty nester.

Most exciting, though, is that Steve is mentioned in the letters for the first time (despite not being born for nearly 5 years) when Mattie dreams of a son that Ken might one day have. Which leads us, inevitably, to playing with blocks.

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One of our big questions is answered this week when we learn that Ken has a question of his own.

Meanwhile, Mattie is proudly showing off snaps around town, and working to keep the house at a frosty 65 degrees during a long cold snap.

Plus, their car trouble continues, as do the questions about Wes & Flo's belongings.

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Our first handwritten letter since September means that Mattie isn't at her trusty typewriter. Not one to waste a moment, she is writing to Ken while having her hair done at he beauty shop.

She tells him about the overwhelming stresses of Ladies' Aid, about new snaps she's sent his way, and how much better Ken's letters are than Bud's. We get to discover what used to be in the building that is now The Ax Man, the Curtis Hotel is Recommended, and that the tree in the back yard is even more special than we already...

Only 36 hours after her previous letter, Mattie has news enough to write again to Ken. And yes, it's about Wes & Flo.

Plus, Mattie is listening to a lot of radio, and narrowly avoiding teenagers, but she cannot get out of her new obligation as it looks as though, despite her wishes, the world isn't ending.

But the biggest news isn't from Mattie - it's from us - because we found Virginia! The mysterious Virginia, of whom we have only 2 photographs and no last name, now has that last name and a bunch more photos. We...

In our longest ever letter (but not episode!), we have a bombshell of a revelation about Mattie's son Wes, and his wife Florence. Mattie is way in her feelings, and leaning on her faith to get through.

Ken is NOT leaning on Edgar Guest's poems, so he's got plenty of energy left to be Mattie's sounding board about a homesick Bud, and the answer to who is the new president of the Ladies Aid.

Content Advisory: this episode contains discussion of domestic violence.

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It's a whole new season, and a whole new year! 1943 is starting off with a Western Union telegram from Ken. Plus some poetry, radio specials, and our first of many, many cutouts from the newspaper.

A talkative Wes (who knew!??!?) is lonely in California, but Mattie doesn't have that problem, what with all the entertaining she's doing. Also entertaining is Herman Straka, a local boy making good with those funky tunes. Also making good is Mattie with her affection for Virginia. Did we learn more about Virginia while we were away? We did!

Plus, this...

It's time for a magical Christmas! Family! Parties! Presents! Tom and Jerry's!

We are joined today by cousins Stefan and Jenna to hear all about the haul, including Ken's gift from the Army.

Mattie is proud of her tree, but frustrated with her daughter-in-law. She manages to snag a double waffle iron, which we know will turn her into Grandma Waffles, and she does some mangling (explanation included).

Carl, The Old Man, catches up with Ken in Canada, and Wes arrives in California.

Plus, a matrimonial update on the vertebrally injured...

The weather is all over the place, making it tough to get around. But even so, it seems like everyone is traveling. Holiday trains are packed. And Wes leaves for California. With another family. In winter. Days before Christmas.

With the changes in temps, the ice and sleet and snow are alternating, making everything a challenge - including a nasty surprise for the neighbor bride-to-be.

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Mattie's in a Christmas play. She's a shepherd! And that's just one of many things she has going on.

We are joined by Jesse Buetow, Hans' brother and Steve's son, as we hear Mattie turn her letters into her daily diary. She has car trouble, cold trouble, and mom trouble, but she gets it all handled. There's a visit from a cousin. And another cousin. In a dramatic turn, Wes announces, to Mattie's consternation, that he wants to leave for California, and Mattie sells her hat, literally off her head.

Plus, there's a huge air...

Grandma Mick has died. We knew it was coming, but it's still tough. Matt, who has a birthday, takes a day off of work during a busy time to grieve his mom, and Mattie helps with funeral arrangements, despite her own mother feeling left out and letting her know.

On top of all that, or maybe because of that, Mattie feels like her siblings aren't doing enough to help.

In good news, Chuck's letter finally made it to Ken. Also, we take some time to understand the finances of waging a war, and to learn...

It was a difficult and beautiful weekend for Mattie - dominated by her mom, Julia, demanding attention, and Matt's mom, Marie, dying. Navigating both women, and her feelings, lets us into her inner world as a sandwich generation daughter and mom - worried, caregiving, and trying to be present with both the generations above and behind her.

Plus, Aldo Stenberg, Mattie's older sister's husband, is at it again. He's making trouble for his younger brother, and trying to figure out how to keep money away from his stepmother - neither of which sit well with Mattie.

It's Thanksgiving!! It's dark! It's cold! It's lonely! And it's time to talk about food.

With a rousing poem, and recommendations from the time, we explore the culinary delights of the season. Lee's Broiler! The West Twins! It's a tour of the Twin Cities restaurant scene.

Mattie is feeling the absence of the Boys during the Holiday, but she's cooking a goose anyways. We get to learn about how Matt's job works as a railway postal clerk, and debate the difference between east and south (the cardinal directions) and which is which.

Plus...

It's the week of Thanksgiving, and there's a lot of socializing to be done. Mattie visits and visits and visits, and bemoans that visiting will get much harder with coffee rationing taking away the pleasure of a cup of joe with your pals.

One thing that won't get done is going to see Mrs. Miniver, even if it is a good movie. Mattie learns about Ken's housing, and we learn about how much housing they needed to house the mobile workforce and the Army in 1942. Plus, how amazing the writing was in National Geographic.

And...

Steve and Hans are joined in the shop by Cathy - Hans' mom!

For us, it's father's day, the perfect time for an introduction to Carl, Mattie's ex-husband, Ken's father, and a huge figure in all of our lives. Carl was a difficult (awful?) man, and a tyrant of a husband and father, and looms large in the relationship between Mattie and Ken. And, in a lot of ways, with all of us. The legacy of a father to a son, and then down to his son and his - do these things carry on?

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Steve and Hans are joined by Mattie's great-granddaughter Becky, great-grandson-in-law Kevin, and great-great-granddaughter Mia, officially turning us into a five generation podcast.

Today, we get the details on George & Gwen's Wedding, including her dress, the flowers, Alvin's singing, and the door than knocked down poor Mrs. Buelow. We also speculate on the military job we imagine Ken should have had, and whether Mattie would have stood on business (she would have, obvsly.)

Both Matt and Mattie are also both out volunteering this week, including for Every Member Canvas and Ladies' Aid. And Mattie is cleaning...

It's a rainy fall day in November, and Mattie is sitting down to write to Ken.

Today, there is drama. She got a call from her older sister, who used to be one of her closest friends. But now, it seems, there is bitterness as Mattie reports telling Ella "well, Old Girl, you are just getting a dose of your own medicine, now you know how it feels to slight a child of yours."

Steve reveals that, just a few years from now, Ella will get a lobotomy, and though she lives until the 2000's...

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.<...

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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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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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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Mattie On The Homef...

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...

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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Website: moth.family

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Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buet...

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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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 i...

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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Get notified about new episodes

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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 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

Contact us: [email protected]

Get notified about new episodes

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Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is ho...

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

Contact us: [email protected]

Get notified about new episodes

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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 Kirkpatric