What's better than a vintage tablecloth with no holes or stains?

One with holes and stains, of course! I'm not talking about your Sunday-best antique damasks - because they are better without flaws. But, an everyday vintage cloth that has a few problems is wonderful - you needn't worry about ruining it by using it.

Over the years I've purchased many vintage cloths from antique shops and eBay and often select ones with small holes or stains, like the one above. The less-than-pristine condition makes them really affordable and I don't flinch when spills occur. It's quite liberating - throw it on the ground, eat messy outdoor foods . . . no problem. The funny thing is that lots of use has never added a stain or tear to any of these cloths, which leads my husband to think we should be this cavalier with new ones as well. This just goes to show you can sometimes live happily with someone who has a different world view . . .

As the summer is officially arriving this weekend, consider a picnic with some great food, friends or family, and an old tablecloth. We recently packed this rolling cooler and small bag and headed out for a leisurely lunch.

En route to our destination, we passed a lovely colonial church and graveyard and decided to stop there instead. Yes, we are those people - the ones who love old graveyards!

And this one dates to colonial times and even has a picnic table, which was much friendlier once it was covered with our old cloth!

We dined in breezy shade, with tombstones on one side (see the really old markers above!) and the lovely brick church on the other.

And a few pretty blooms mixed in here and there.

Now I'm in a picnic mood and hope to enjoy a few more before the weather gets really steamy! My little, holey cloth has been washed and is back in the trunk of the car - just in case we need it! And I'm off to look for a new, old cloth on eBay . . .