Hello Friday readers! Welcome to the Urban Abbess’s new weekly posting of handy tips, ideas, and stuff-that-I-like. Today’s inspiration: a backyard dinning table.

It seems like every Target, Fred Meyer and Sears is sporting giant 9 piece outdoor dinning sets these days. Gone is the simple two-bench picnic table that got a quick coat of redwood stain each June. According to the American marketing machine, in order to eat hot dogs and watermelon, the average household now needs a table for six, with cushioned arm chairs and a sun umbrella. The latest of these design wonders even include a built-in firebowl in the center of the table. You don’t even have to squat to roast your marshmallows!

If this is your thing then, by all means, forge ahead and drop the $300. But if you long for the nostalgia of a wood planked table, or find the idea of eating tomatoes and basil at a sweet country table with mismatched French Provencal plates appealling, then read on. I’ve got a tip for you.

In lieu of spending a small fortune on patio furniture, invest in a re-claimed door. Solid interior no-panel doors can be found for around $10 at places like ReStore, which sell recycled construction materials. Lie the thing flat on top of a pair of saw horses ($24) and you’ve got your self a table for eight! Haul the chairs out from the kitchen, get an inexpensive set of folding chairs, or scavenge for mis-matched dinning room chairs at garage sales. I’ve found six such chairs so far – 2 for free and the other four costing $3-6 dollars each. I recovered this one in 15 mintues (staple gun, dah-ling!) It only cost a few bucks for ¼ yrd of fabric, some 1/8inch gauge vinyl sheeting (also at the fabric store) and viola! Waterproof seat cushions for your butt’s sitting pleasure. Check out Value Village for retro sheets cum table cloths, or stitch up your own in an hour or two out of inexpensive washable fabrics. You’ll be all ready to go for less than the cheapest manufactured set.

Have fun dinning under the lilacs!