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

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 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, she will spend the rest of her life in an institution. In happier news - we hear about WWII going better in North Africa (for now), a glimmer of hope in Stalingrad (but not yet), and a new movie. Plus, we learn all about V-Mail, and Mattie meets her dress form lookalike. –––– Links: * 1942 U.S. Midterm Elections [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_elections,_1942] * 1942 Election results in the MN 4th District [https://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1942election.pdf] * The Socialist Appeal [https://dn721909.ca.archive.org/0/items/sa-0409/SA0409.pdf] –––– Characters This Week [https://www.moth.family/photos/]: * Aunt Ella (older sister) * Uncle Herb (younger brother) * Aunt Dolly (younger brother's wife) * Chuck Giertsen (Ken's best friend) * Virginia (Ken's fiancée) –––– Website: moth.family [https://www.moth.family/] Contact us: mattieonthehomefront@gmail.com Get notified [https://www.moth.family/#/portal/signup] about new episodes –––– Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow [https://www.hansbuetow.com/]. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow [https://mattbuetow.com/]. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

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 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. –––– Links: * LIFE Magazine [https://www.reddit.com/r/fashionhistory/comments/1bcfma7/on_april_10_1942_life_magazine_wrote_about_the/] (April, 1942) * Sew for Victory [https://printcollection.com/products/sew-for-victory] * Make Do and Mend [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Make_Do_and_Mend#/media/File:Make_Do_and_Mend_Art.IWMPST14924.jpg] * Claire McCardell (Blackbird Spyplane [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Make_Do_and_Mend#/media/File:Make_Do_and_Mend_Art.IWMPST14924.jpg]) * Pop-Over Dress (The Met [https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/84029]) * Logo photo: Betty Grable at Fort Bragg (1942 [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:WWII_109.B2.F2.9.jpg]) –––– Characters This Week [https://www.moth.family/photos/]: * Bud (stepson) * Chuck Giertsen (Ken's best friend) * Florence (Wes' wife) * Glad Gennrich (friend) –––– Website: moth.family [https://www.moth.family/] Contact us: mattieonthehomefront@gmail.com Get notified [https://www.moth.family/#/portal/signup] about new episodes –––– Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow [https://www.hansbuetow.com/]. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow [https://mattbuetow.com/]. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

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 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. –––– Characters This Week [https://www.moth.family/photos/]: * Ruby Moe (neighbor and Ken's Latin teacher) * Gwen (Ken's cousin) & George (Gwen's fiancé) * Bob & Glad Gennrich (friends) * The Giertsen's (friends) –––– Website: moth.family [https://www.moth.family/] Contact us: mattieonthehomefront@gmail.com Get notified [https://www.moth.family/#/portal/signup] 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 [https://mattbuetow.com/]. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

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 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. –––– Characters This Week [https://www.moth.family/photos/]: * Wes (eldest son) * Gram (mom) * Gennrich's (friends from Minneapolis) * Aunt Martha (aunt-in-law) –––– Website: moth.family [https://www.moth.family/] Contact us: mattieonthehomefront@gmail.com Get notified [https://www.moth.family/#/portal/signup] 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 [https://mattbuetow.com/]. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

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 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.  –––– Characters This Week [https://www.moth.family/photos/]: * Uncle Berndt (uncle-in-law) * Aunt Martha (aunt-in-law) * Pastor Joseph Simonson * Gram (mother) –––– Website: moth.family [https://www.moth.family/] Contact us: mattieonthehomefront@gmail.com Get notified [https://www.moth.family/#/portal/signup] 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 [https://mattbuetow.com/]. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.