Picnics for two are the perfect way to romanticize retired life. They’re beautiful, intimate, include good eats (and/or drinks) and can be thrown just about anywhere two people can sit.
In last week’s post, My 2025 Retired Life Goals, I shared with you that one of my 2025 goals is to romanticize dining at home, not only picnics but home dining in general.
As I begin generating ideas for romanticizing dining at home, I thought it would be fun to take a look back at some of the picnics I’ve thrown for Bill and me since retiring from university life.
Let’s get inspired to plan a picnic at home and romanticize retired life, in general.
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A Look Back at Five Picnic Ideas to Romanticize Retired Life
Let’s take a look back at five picnics I have planned and shared with Bill. Each was held at home on our property, somewhere outside. Enjoy!
1. Breakfast in the Garden, A Romantic Start to the Day
I love breakfast! And breakfast in the garden is even better. Why not start your day with a little romance?
The day before planning breakfast in the garden, Bill and I picked up a case of beautiful peaches from a peach truck that visits our town annually. The peaches are amazing, and I decided that they deserve a special table, a picnic table to be exact.

I created a simple breakfast menu that included the newly purchased peaches, cherries and blueberries plus farm fresh eggs and croissants. And coffee for me and hot tea for Bill. In addition to the yummy eats were loads of flowers from our garden, candles, and my favorite blue and white vintage dishes.
Not only did Bill and I enjoy breakfast in the garden, Frank (our cat) enjoyed the picnic, as well.

2. A Simple Charcuterie Board in a Beautiful Setting
Picnics don’t have to be reserved for summertime. A few years ago, I planned a winter picnic for Bill and me as a challenge to myself to find the most beautiful part of our property during the middle of winter.
We hopped on our 4-wheeler with a table and chairs in back and drove around our property until we found the perfect field for a winter picnic.
Following our search for the perfect winter setting and after dropping off the table and chairs, I headed to the grocery store to grab picnic supplies.

I was ready to create a bit of magic at home now that I had a bouquet of roses in hand, and everything needed to make a charcuterie board.
Moreover, the picnic was a success. Bill and I enjoyed good food, drinks and an evening together watching the sunset in the middle of winter.
For more details, check out my post: How to Plan a Winter Picnic for Two

3. Romanticize Retired Life with Brunch Outside
Next, we’re heading back to the garden for brunch. I have an old table that we purchased at a farm auction for $3. It’s my favorite table for picnics and although it gets moved around, it is typically somewhere in our garden waiting to be adorned with everything needed for a picnic.
This was one of Bill’s favorite picnics, mostly because it had the best food! I typically keep things simple, but for brunch I decided to make one of my favorite quiche recipes, Sweet Corn and Summer Quiche, and my absolute favorite salad, The Best Pickled Beets Salad. I have linked the recipes below.
Recipes: The Best Pickled Beets Salad and Sweet Corn and Summer Squash Quiche

In addition to the great food, I included fresh flowers from the garden, candles and vintage dishes plus matching linens.
Also, one of the best things about hosting brunch is you have all morning to get ready. So, while you’re leisurely enjoying your morning coffee you have time to create the florals and salad for the picnic. Plus, quiche is great served cold so can be made in advance.

4. Drinks, Dominoes and Too Much Fun!
There’s no rule that says picnics have to include food. Why not plan a picnic with your favorite drinks and a friendly game of dominoes?!?

Each spring our field of crimson clover blooms and it is a glorious field of red. I knew it was the perfect spot to throw a picnic.
After sharing my ideas with Bill, it was decided that our picnic would be a bit different than past picnics. This one would center around drinks, his and her martinis to be specific, and dominoes.
You can find our favorite drink recipes here: His and Her Martinis

The picnic was so simple to plan and just as much fun as some of the fancier picnics I’ve created.
5. Afternoon Tea is Better with Prosecco
Last but not least, afternoon tea, sugar cookies AND Prosecco.
My inspiration for Afternoon Tea was a dozen gorgeous sugar cookies that our daughter made and sent to us in the mail. Not only are the cookies beautiful, but they also taste amazing. She is such a talented baker.

The cookies were too beautiful to just eat. So, I planned afternoon tea on the back porch. With the addition of prosecco and fresh berries, we were set for a romantic tea for two.

Bill loves a hot cup of tea in the afternoon, I love Prosecco, and we both love sugar cookies. The picnic was perfect!

Romanticizing Retired Life at Home: A Few Final Notes
One of my favorite retirement perks is spending time at home and having the time to create joyful moments for both Bill and me. Planning picnics is such a fun, creative activity. And I love that Bill is always willing to join in the fun, he is such a good sport (notice his work gloves on the table below).
Looking for more inspiration? Check out Inspired Gatherings by French County Cottage

My Formula for Planning Picnics
In looking back at the picnics shared today, I notice that I follow a basic pattern. My typical picnics include 1. flowers, 2. food and/or drinks, 3. vintage dishes, 4. linens and 5. candles. It’s amazing how quick picnics come together with this simple formula.

Ok, I’m ready! It’s time to take what I’ve learned from throwing picnics and apply these lessons to dining in general. I have so many ideas and can’t wait to put them in action.
I’ll share soon!
Cheers to retired life, and as always, happy gardening!
X Penny Pennington Weeks
You may also like these posts about retired life…
My 2025 Retired Life Goals: 5 Ideas for the New Year
How I Embrace a Soft Life Now that I’m Retired
Three Tips on Creating a Happy Retired Life
How to Enjoy Retired Life: Creating a Retirement Routine
These are all very beautiful! We live in Enid outside of town. I don’t think we’ve ever eaten outside because of the bugs! Mostly flies. But I love the concept and your photos are outstanding!
Thanks so much for stopping by the blog, I’m glad you enjoyed the ideas and photography.