Romantic Days of Summer

FrenchKissed update: This free download is no longer available, but you can find it in my Zibbet and Etsy shops:)

Mes amies, I apologize for posting this week's freebie so late. I thought I could put on my big girl panties and hook up my scanner all by myself. But Windows Wizard didn't work its magic for me and after much frustration, I decided to wait for my Tech Whiz to get home from work:)

I was looking for an image that said "summer." Do you think I succeeded? My original card was mailed from Belgium in 1908 from Norbert to Isabelle. No message. Just signed his name. A man of few words ....

In this version, I have added a turquoise layer....

If this romantic couple were rowing along on the duck pond in front of my new diggs, sweet nothings might be interrupted with some loud honking.... 

Meet Archie. Who is a girl, by the way. But sometimes these things aren't clearly evident when names are passed out:) Archie is an Aussie! Black swans are native to Australia and New Zealand. There were some issues with others in her group (excessive aggressiveness by one male in particular); a couple were sold to another collector, two more went to a wetland preserve and one just flew the coop (I believe he has been spotted at Vancouver Lake.) Today I talked to the pond caretaker and I'm happy to hear that they are in search of a mate for Archie......

IF I owe you an email reply, please bear with me! I have been moving furniture and re-arranging furniture in between tripping over boxes (even managed to unload a few of them)! My arm, the one I broke at the beginning of the year, is doing just fine. But most every other muscle in my body is sore and tired:)

This week's winner of two free scans is Christine of The Daily Postcard. Thank you for being a loyal reader of my blog, Christine! Just email me the titles/links to two free scans you'd like, your choice, $3.99 or under -- you can select from either one of my shops, Etsy or Zibbet.

FRENCHKISSED update: Thanks to Marj for pointing out to me that I didn't exactly fill in the gaps in regard to my move:) I am officially in Vancouver! Last week in desperation, I called a furniture store where we had bought our couch and love seat a long time ago. Since they have folks who deliver your furniture for you, I had my fingers crossed that maybe one of their strong backs did moving on the side. As it was, the furniture store owner told me about a 'moving and storage' company right there in The Dalles, 12 miles from where I was. Ironically, no amount of Google searches had brought up this business! I called around 3 and a woman assured me that the owner would get back to me within the hour. A quarter to five and I was so antsy, I called back.
The most lacadaisical, gravelly voice greeted me at the other end.
Yeah, he had a couple of movers. Sure, when you do need them? Are you completely packed?
No, but almost. Is tomorrow too soon, I asked.
Hmm..you must be a miracle worker, he said.
No, just desparate, I said.
The next morning, one of the movers called me to say they were running late because his partner had slept in. OMG! I'm trying to not have a panic attack, wondering what am I gonna do if a couple of misfits show up at my door, looking like hangover candidates?!!
Well, they did show up at my door and ... well, I won't say they looked hung over, but one was so hairy, I don't think I could tell even if he was. He was short. Shorter than I am. The other guy was quite clean cut, but a rail. How were these little, skinny guys gonna wrestle with my furniture? How were they going to manage a California king mattress down a flight of stairs!?
I'll tell you how: with no little sweat and a whole lot of grit! For five hours they worked non-stop save for two ciggie breaks. Items were packed professionally and loaded properly. Stacking furniture and boxes, the proper distribution of weight -- that's so critical to insure your belongings aren't jolted, broken and scratched. I was flabbergasted and so thankful for their help. I finished packing loose ends and kept them supplied with cold water and Cowboy cookies for energy:)
Then it was back to the U-Haul shop to get a tow trailer. Breaking all insurance rules, the fella had mercy on me and secured my vehicle on the trailer, taking care of all the chains and convoluted tire straps....
They say a brave man only dies ones, but a coward dies a thousand times. Well, driving the 17-foot U-Haul truck towing a trailer with a vehicle -- I was a coward! I imagined Portland rush hour traffic, I feared getting stuck in some situation where I had to -- gawd forbid -- back up! I pictured myself paralyzed with fear. I devised a non-backup back-up plan where I would just stop at the first mall with 40 acres of pavement and call my husband to 'come take over' because I knew his 10-hour shift was about to end.With all this fretting wheeling through my mind, I lumbered at 55 mph. An hour an a half later -- or was it two? -- I arrived at our new abode, a safe coward who did not cause any wrecks!
The young college studs who I had arranged to meet us to unload were running late, caught in traffic. Many boxes and many flights up the stairs later, I was happy to see three of them arrive. Alas, they did not fit my image of big, burly movers either. They got the job done, but I tell you truthfully: my two "barflies" were better and stronger....
So that was  a week ago today and I've still got scores of boxes to unpack. I'm going to relish being able to walk in a straight line, without jumping over cardboard.
The Hubby says the next time we move, we're taking whatever we can carry in a backpack.
Sounds like a plan!