Lost Desktop Custom Background

I did the routine to get rid of the annoying pop up to remove unused desktop icons.
I went to properties of the desktop and un-clicked the 60 day notification box and THEN my desktop background customized photo disappeared, replaced by a blue screen with my icons on it. AND it took out the entire folder of photos from which I chose the background. I have searched several ways and it is gone. I did a system restore (or tried to) and got the message that the restoration date could not be restored. I tried numerous dates to no avail. Even stranger, when I completed the restoration attempt, my original background was behind the notification window for system restore. When I got out of system restore window, my background was once again gone. No other problems on the computer.
This was a once in a lifetime photo for my background. How do I get it back?:

nacho