Mattie On The Homefront

Proud of Her Tree, Missing Her Boys - Christmas - [Dec 27, 1942]

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'

Betwixt and Between - Wes and the Weather - [Dec 21, 1942]

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 Californ

The Threat of German Bombs - [Dec 14, 1942]

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

The Old People's Friend - Marie Christiana Mickelsen - [Dec 7, 1942]

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 hel

Two Moms - Marie and Julia - [Dec 1, 1942]

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 feeli

Brace Up, Gents - Thanksgiving - [Nov 28, 1942]

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

No to Mrs. Miniver, but Yes to Cranberry Salad and Chili - [Nov 23, 1942]

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 coffe

The Old Man and His Son and His Son and His Son - [Nov 18 & 20, 1942]

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, a

Until We Could Hardly Wiggle - Cousin Gwen & George's Wedding - [Nov 16, 1942]

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 generat

The Scarlet Scourge - [Nov 9, 1942]

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 clo

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

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

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

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 Citi

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

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 o

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

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

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

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 s

Mattie Saves the Party - [Oct 5, 1942]

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. –––– Links: Herma

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

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 U

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

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

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

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. –––– Website: mot

Welcome To: Mattie On The Homefront

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 you