From transitioning moms to career-changers, local women are closing up shop ...

We all know the Web is full of possibilities.

A few keystrokes and you can find everything from long-lost grade-school friends to remote-island getaways off the coast of Africa. Of course, besides being ultra-informative, many of these sites are also businesses trying to make money. There's money to be had, too.

Think about Google and Facebook, whose founders are now billionaires after just a few years of work. Although most of our local Web-preneurs aren't quite YouTube or eBay caliber, they are up and running and making a profit.

And despite financial and technological challenges, these five innovative women have successfully transitioned their businesses to the Net. Of the women we profiled, there's a podcaster with a passion for the arts; a vendor who's turning handmade Mexican dresses into the newest toddler trend; and a "chocolate lady" with more than 500 products available (and she hasn't stopped yet).

Whatever their differences, though, these women have one thing in common: Their online business is their dream job. They're doing what they enjoy, they can set their own hours, and the money … well, with their fingers crossed, that'll come soon enough.

Craftcast craftcast.com

When Nyack's Alison Lee first delved into podcasting, blogging and Web design in 2006, she felt lost. Despite being a self-proclaimed "tomboy tech-girl," who named her dog "Giga" (after the gigabyte of memory on her son's first Mac), Lee - then in her early 50s - didn't have any experience with HTML. She didn't know a whole lot about radio either, except that men seemed to go for her "sex-kitten" voice. However, with help from her radio-savvy son, and some tomes on computer coding, she launched Craftcast, a podcast on which she interviews artists - such as painters, actors and chefs. In the last two years, Craftcast's listener base has grown steadily; she's had over 250,000 downloads, and she's also featured on the iTunes Store in the "How To" podcast section.

Before podcasting took over her life, Lee had run an advertising agency. But shifts in the industry forced her to consider a career change. Crafts - especially jewelry-making - had always been her passion, and she saw an opportunity. Why not make her own craft show? Initially, she turned to her college-age son and his friends for help with the Web design and the technical aspects of recording, but within a year of launching the podcast, she was a pro.

Adron's Art Lesson Plans: How To Draw A Raccoon Face For A Young ...

I am an artist and I teach art to homeschoolers in groups and individually. These are the art lesson plans from my teaching at Spectrum Christian Homeschool community. They are available to the parents and students to keep track of the subject matter of the class. It will give a visitor an idea of what my class offers. As a Christian I prayerfully seek God's leading to teach to the heart of each student not just drawing skills but life lessons as well. As in all my lessons I advise you to look for the basic shapes and drawing in light "spider web" lines to create an outline.  The raccoon has a face something like a  bear and something like a cat. Draw the circle of the head and make reference marks for the eyes and the center vertical meridian so things will stay balanced on each side of the face. The eyes are as simple as eyes ever get, they are black circles with a shiny spot or two. On the cheek side of the eyes is a little roll of skin like an eyelid. I always say save the fun stuff for last so wait before you do the mask until you have everything else done. The ears are rounded they are almost at the top of the head positioned above the eyes and toward the outside. The ears have white edges so keep them clean. The nose is a black tear drop shape and the nostrils wrap out and up, it may have a shiny spot. After you have a good outline then start drawing in the fur. Use sharp pencils or fine tip markers. Take your time on the fur to make it look real. Draw the fur out away from the face. Pull your pencil or pen out and lift up as you go to get the hair look. Don't work over the white areas leave them clean. The mask is shaped like wings and on every raccoon it is a little different so if you mess up it is OK somewhere there is a raccoon like yours! You may need to shade in the mask and then go over it again for the fur. Pull some of the fur long on both sides of the face at the cheekbone area like a slight wedge. I love God and His word. I hope my life will become a thankful life of worship and faith. I attend Church where I teach Sunday School and volunteer at the kids Awana ministry. I write poems inspired by my faith in God, many are formatted a prayers. Much of my poetry is free verse, but it is not casual or without form and I am writing more poetry that rhymes.

English Lesson Plans For Substitute Teachers

Take a bow!, lesson plans for preschool drama

Happy Birthday Rita Raccoon

The Roadless Yaak, Reflections and Observations About One of Our Last Great Wild Places

Lesson plans for teachers in nature-study agriculture, based upon the Illinois state course of study