Texas wakes up to frost, ice, and sleet. TEXAS WEATHER.

We went to bed with ice forming on the ground and woke up this morning to a beautiful, icy winter wonderland. Texas is icy weather wise. Our bird bath was frozen solid and ice cycles were hanging like beautiful crystals from the roof of our old family homestead here in Texas. i COULDNT GET THE PHOTOS TO LOAD DUE TO THE BLOCKER OR FIREWALL. If someone knows how to fix it please let me know & I can add some photos.

How to get a business up and running online

When 54-year-old public relations expert Joan Stewart launched publicityhound.com in 1997, she paid a developer nearly $4,000 to build the Web site for her new online business, which enables her to sell publicity tips, advice and e-books that buyers download online. But a decade ago is ancient history in the hyper-paced online world.

Now, with new advances in technology, small business owners with little or no Web experience can develop and operate their own e-commerce Web sites for around $50 a month. These do-it-yourself (DIY) sites let new merchants:




Launch e-commerce sites that accept credit, debit, and PayPal purchases.

Purchase domain names and operate multiple e-mail addresses.

Create, manage, and update databases of products and photos.

Promote their Web sites on major search engines.


Yahoo Small Business, for example, provides all the tools you need to develop and run an online store, including a credit-card payment system and 24-hour technical support. Its merchant starter plan is $40 monthly.

EBay, which has 200 million shoppers worldwide, allows merchants to open virtual stores on its Web site, starting at $15.95 a month. It offers free advice, with e-brochures on bookkeeping, taxes, and other topics.

And these are just the big names. With more small businesses going online every day, local Internet hosting companies also are joining the DIY e-commerce game. If you have service with a local Web host, check to see if it offers an e-commerce plan for business startups.

"If you want a simple Web site that looks pretty good, there are so many services that can do a great job for you: Office Live, Homestead, and others,'' says Ramon Ray, editor of smallbiztechnology.com, which provides resources for online businesses.

DIY or customized site?
A starting point is the National Federation of Independent Business, which offers a directory of popular Web hosting companies that help e-merchants launch DIY sites. Web hosting companies are the landlords of the Internet; most not only rent out Web space but also offer easy-to-build business Web sites. Although some do not charge fees for these sites, be prepared to run banner ads in exchange for the service.

The free DIY sites are not for novices either, warns Ray. "I would shy away from free sites. You won't get the level of technical service you need; it comes down to you get what you pay for."

Instead, new e-commerce businesses should expect to pay at least $50 per month to cover fees for starting and running their own Web sites, Ray says. This covers renting Web space and fees for handling credit card transactions. Your costs may go up if you want to invest more in marketing the site and adding specialized features, such as audio/visual downloads.

Plus, if you want custom designs or add-ons, you will need to hire a professional Web developer. "If you want a unique Web site, with a very professional look -- that does not have a cookie-cutter design -- then have someone design it for you," Ray says.

Basic custom design costs have dropped to as low as $500 to $1,000, because site developers now use pre-built templates. However, sites with a lot of special features may run up to several thousand dollars. A clothing retailer, for example, may want to show images of a product in varying colors or sizes, at the click of a mouse. Or a real estate broker may want to take buyers on virtual tours of houses for sale.

Finding an Internet niche
When Stewart's site was built 10 years ago, there were no easy-to-use DIY programs online. Nothing was automated, so she had to call the developer every time she added pages or made changes. He charged by the hour.

In 2001, she invested in software that lets her manage the site herself. With Microsoft Front Page she can make changes in seconds, she says. "If I create a new product, I have the sales page up and running in a half-hour. I used to have to make an appointment and wait around for the Web developer to get the work done."

A former journalist, Stewart sells downloads for $10 apiece of e-reports she pens on such topics as "Damage Control: How to Keep the Media from Making a Mess of Your Story," and "Questions You Can Expect Reporters to Ask During an Interview." She still uses a site developer for special features, such as a "drop-down" box visitors see when they click on her home page, promoting a free subscription to her weekly newsletter.

But it takes more than a well-designed Web site to draw online customers, she adds. Merchants need to find their niche. "The key is to have an Internet presence," she says. "I post my newsletter online. I blog. I write free articles. I am all over the Internet, so customers can find me." These efforts have brought her a lot of repeat or "lifetime customers," says Stewart. "I logged onto my computer this morning, and I had a $350 order."

She also points to eBay as an example of a successful Web site that began by focusing on a highly specialized market. A Web developer who wanted to help his girlfriend market her collection of Pez dispensers created the initial site.

Getting started
To choose a Web hosting service, start with the comparisons at: http://www.find.freehosting.net

Also check out these popular Web hosting companies for small businesses:

Bizland.com
freemerchant.com
homestead.com
websiteforfree.com
bigstep.com
eCongo.com
bizblast.com
Nebsnow.com
Source: National Federation of Independent Business

Then, once you have chosen a hosting service, here are tips for making your e-commerce site a success:




Develop and stick to a business plan. Don't try to do too much too soon with a new Web site; you may not be able to follow through.

Set up credit-card payments. Internet marketers say many customers do not want to take the time to mail checks by US post.

Check out the competition. Before setting up shop online, search the Internet to discover what your competitors are offering and at what price.

Build a customer base. Consider writing a free weekly newsletter that will link users to your Web site and products. Allow visitors to subscribe to your newsletter from your Web site.

Use word of mouth. E-mail friends and associates to let them know about your Web site, and tell them to pass on the word. Contact your local media; perhaps a newspaper or TV station will run a story about your business.


Follow up now!
National Federation of Independent Business: Links, articles and tips for starting and running a Web-based business.
Small Business Administration: Information and tips on starting a Web-based business. Click on the technology link in the category titled Small Business Planner.
Smallbiztechnology.com: Links, tools, articles, advice, resources for starting and running a business online.
Wilson Internet Services: Ralph Wilson is a veteran Internet marketing expert who offers seminars, newsletters and free advice on his Web site.
eWorkingWomen.com: Articles, resources, links to help Web-based business women.

S.F. group enjoys shopping sabbatical

By LISA LEFF, Associated Press
Wed Jan 3, 4:12 AM ET



SAN FRANCISCO - It began, as grand ideas often do, over a dinner — risotto, artisan cheese and wine. What would it be like, 10 environmentally conscious friends wondered as they discussed the state of the planet, to go a year without buying anything new?

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Twelve months later, the results from their experiment in anti-consumption for 2006 are in: Staying 100 percent true to the goal proved both harder and easier than those who signed on expected.

And while broken vacuum cleaners and malfunctioning cell phones posed challenges, some of the group's original members say the self-imposed shopping sabbatical was so liberating that they've resolved to do it for another year.

"It started in a lighthearted way, but it is very serious," said John Perry, 42, a father of two who works for a Silicon Valley technology company. "It is about being aware of the excesses of consumer culture and the fact we are drawing down our resources and making people miserable around the world."

The pledge they half-jokingly named The Compact, after the Mayflower pilgrims, spread to other cities through the Internet and an appearance on the "Today" show.

As it turned out, The Compact was modest as far as economic boycotts go. Several cities in the United States and Europe have communities of "freegans," people whose contempt for consumerism is so complete they eat food foraged from Dumpsters whenever possible, train hop and sleep in abandoned buildings on principle.

The San Francisco group, by contrast, exempted food, essential toiletries like toothpaste and shampoo, underwear and other purchases that fell under the categories of health and safety from their pledge.

But perhaps because its members included middle-class professionals who could afford to shop recreationally, their cause caught on. Nearly 3,000 people have joined a user group Perry set up on Yahoo so participants could swap goods and tips.

Besides thrift stores and garage sales, participants found a wealth of free or previously owned merchandise in online classifieds and sites where people post stuff they want to get rid of, such as http://www.freecycle.org and http://www.garbagescout.com.

After going through an initial period of retail withdrawal, discovering just how easy it was to score pretty much anything with a little time and effort was an eye-opener, according to participants.

Rachel Kesel, 26, who works as a dog walker, said she was astonished by how often the items she needed simply materialized — the friend who offered a bicycle seat when hers was stolen, the Apple store employees who fixed her laptop at no cost.

Similarly fortuitous timing happened often enough that group members came up with a name for it — "Compact Karma."

After postponing purchases such as a new wind breaker and a different stud for her pierced tongue — she couldn't bring herself to buy a used one — Kesel broke down only twice.

Once was when she was planning a trip to Israel and couldn't find a used guidebook that reflected current political realities. The other was after her commuter coffee cup suffered a fatal crack.

"I really found a lot of times there were things I thought I needed that I don't need that much," she said.

The pledge provided unexpected dividends as well, such as the joy of getting reacquainted with the local library and paying down credit cards. Gone, too, was the hangover of buyer's remorse.

Perry got satisfaction out of finding he had a knack for fixing things and how often manufacturers were willing to send replacement parts and manuals for products that had long since outlived their warranties.

"One of the byproducts of The Compact has been I have a completely different relationship with the things in my life. I appreciate the stuff I have more," he said. "I don't think I need to buy another pair of shoes until I'm entering Leisure World."

Over the holidays, Compact members gave homemade gifts or charitable donations in a recipients name instead of engaging in the usual Grinch-making shopping crush. Kate Boyd, 45, a set designer and high school drama teacher, visited a new downtown shopping mall and felt like she had just stepped off a flying saucer.

"It was all stuff that had nothing to do with me, yet for so many people that's how they spend their weekends," she said. "It's entertainment and it is the opposite of where I've been for a year."

Now that they know they can do it, Boyd, Kesel and Perry are ready to extend the pledge into 2007. But first, they plan to give themselves a one-day reprieve to stock up on essentials — windshield wipers, bicycle brakes and tongue studs.

__

On the Net:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thecompact

Herbal folklore: What our ancestors believed about herbs

Since ages past, medicinal plants have been crucial in sustaining the health and wellbeing of mankind. Linseed, for example, provides its harvesters with a nutritious cooking oil, fuel, a cosmetic balm for the skin and fiber to make fabric. At the same time, it was used to treat conditions such as bronchitis, respiratory catarrh, boils and a number of digestive problems.
Given the life-enhancing benefits that this and so many other plants conferred, until the 20th century, every village and rural community had a wealth of herbal folklore. Tried and tested local plants were picked for a range of common health problems and taken as tea, applied as lotions or even mixed with lard and rubbed in as an ointment.

As they did not know the effects of the herbs, they used to watch the behavior of the animals. If it did not affect the animals in any way, then they too used to eat that particular root, leaf or berry. In this way, they were able to find out more about herbs. Gradually, a folk understanding of the magical uses of herbs became a body of "resident knowledge." In the West, the following herbs, spices and minerals are said to have the following extra-medical properties:


Alderbark: Mix with chopped onion and carry when gambling.
Angelica Root: Carry to ward off Satan's forces and to prolong life.
Anise Seed: Burn or add to incense as an aid to meditation.
Bayberry: Where there's bayberry, there's good luck and money.
Benzoin: Mix with protection incense and burn to destroy evil forces.
Blessed Thistle: Boil and add to bath for many blessings.
Buckeye Leaf: Carry for good luck and to ward off rheumatism.
Calamus: Sniff to lessen sexual desire; hang around neck to prevent colds and flu; can be used in divinatory incenses.
Catnip: Anoint feet with tea to make one courageous.
Chamomile: Tea to relax and to wash hands with before playing games of chance.
Chewing John: Carry in pocket when looking for a job.
Comfrey Leaf: Stuff a green doll with this to draw money and luck.
Corn Flower: Sprinkle on right shoe when looking for a new lover.
Devil's Shoestring: Rub on hands to control any woman totally.
Dragon's Blood: Attracts good luck; used in uncrossing.
Eucalyptus: Wards off colds and protects one while sleeping.
Fennel Seed: Aphrodisiac.
Five Finger Grass: Allegedly wards off any evil that Five Fingers can do.
Frankincense & Myrrh: Summons spirits; used in sacred ointments, oils, and incense for protection, healing, spirituality, life, and peace of mind.
Goldenseal: Tea to purify blood; sprinkle in place of business to draw more money.
Guinea Pepper: Create strife in enemy's life. [Not recommended! The pagan rule is, what you put out comes back to you a hundredfold.]
High John Root: A powerful gambling charm for big winnings.
Hops: Place under pillow for restful sleep.
Jezebel Root: Others will be generous to one who carries this.
Kelp: Insures safety for sailors, seaman and all who travel.
Lady's Thumb: Love enters the doorway where this is strewn.
Laurel Leaves: Give to a Bride to promote a long and happy union.
Lavender: Wear near the heart to draw a lover near.
Lemon Grass: Tea for lustrous hair.
Linden Flower: Entices many lovers.
Lotus Root: Wear to bring pleasant thoughts and memories.
Low John, The Conqueror: Wrap in a bill to grow more money.
Mandrake: "Wonder of the World" root protects all from harm. [Mandrake has a human shape, as in the old rhyme from John Donne: "Go and catch a falling star / Get with child a mandrake root."]
May Apple: Carry in your wallet and you will never be broke.
Mojo Wish Bean: Carry for seven days to make a wish come true.
Mugwort: Aids in astral projection when placed near the bed. ["Moggy" was the main ingredient in witches' "flying ointment," which was rubbed on, and is a hallucinogen.]
Myrrh: Healing; protects and brings peace of mind.
Nutmeg: Always carry when gambling, for luck.
Orris Root: A love symbol carried to attract the opposite sex. [Like mandrake, it resembles a human form.]
Passion Flower: Strew around doorway to keep jealousy away.
Patchouli: Burn with commanding incense to break up affairs.
Raspberry: Carry to ease pains of pregnancy and childbirth.
Rosebuds and Petals: Wear near the heart to attract men.
Rosemary: Sprinkle for luck; wear to strengthen heart and mind.
Rowan Wood: Evil has no power over the home where this is kept.
Rue: For protection; brings love into the home.
Saltpeter: Takes away an individual's power.
Sandalwood: Mix with any incense and burn for quick success.
Sassafras: Add to mojo bag for good luck.
Sea Salt: Purifies or clears energy; place on the face of a mirror on which you've put an image of a lover to force their return.
Skullcap: Women wear to keep mate safe from other's charms.
Slippery Elm: Sprinkle on a voodoo doll and bury to stop gossip.
Solomon's Seal: A pinch in all corners will exorcise evil spirits.
Spearmint: Stuff in a pillow or a mattress for protection while asleep.
Spikenard: Add a spoonful to any herb bath to enhance its effect.
Star Anise: Highly prized lucky talisman for mojo bag.
Sulfur: Burn outside door to drive away all evil influences.
Verbena: Passions rise quickly when this is nearby.
Vervain: Ancients believed this would make one's every wish come true.
Witch Hazel: Alleviates heartache; dulls passion and allays sorrow.
Wormwood: Burn with angel incense to remove hexes and curses.
Yarrow: Place under pillow and dream of one's true love.

Kitchen Herb Garden

Kitchen Herb Garden
by Dori Fritzinger

If you love using herbs as much as I do, you will probably agree that fresh-picked herbs always taste better than store-bought ones.

If you have available yard or garden space, you can plant a kitchen herb garden. Herbs are easy to grow, don't need a lot of space, thrive in just about any type of soil, and many are cold hardy. An ideal location would be a few steps from your kitchen, but any spot that gets about six hours of sun a day is good. By planting herbs that are most often used in cooking, you can pick what you need all summer.

Herbs commonly grow two different ways, annual and perennial. Annual plants last one growing season and die when the temperature hits freezing. Examples include basil, dill, cilantro, parsley, chamomile, chervil, sweet marjoram and summer savory.

On the other hand - Perennial plants produce new stems year after year. (It doesn't hurt to mulch in the fall for reassurance.) Examples include thyme, mint, chives, sage, tarragon, lemon balm, lavender, hyssop and lovage.

For the beginner gardener I would recommend starting with plants. This is because many commonly loved herbs are hard to start from seed. Finding and chosing your plants is easy and fun. Herb plants can be found at farmer's markets, nurseries and many roadside stands. Controlling the quantity of the plants is harder and between you and your wallet. A basic kitchen garden contains enough different herbs to mix and blend into different and delicious combinations.

Let's start with some of the most commonly used :

Parsley is biennial, which means that it grows for two seasons and then dies and needs to be replaced. The feathery-textured herb (curly and Italian are favorites) adds a tangy flavor to soups, sauces, salads and dressings. Japanese parsley, which is catching on, is a blend of Italian parsley and celery leaves. It is often used as a garnish and makes a nice addition to soups.

Sage - perennial - is an attractive garden plant, and some varieties have variegated leaves. This evergreen herb with a strong flavor comes in many varieties. 'Berggarten' from Germany is a hit with cooks (especially for turkey stuffing), pineapple sage sweetens desserts. Sage is traditionally used in breads and dressings that accompany turkey and pork. Hardy in Zones 4-8.

Rosemary - perennial - a member of the mint family, is one of the oldest herbs known to humankind. Through the ages it has been credited with healing wounds, alleviating headaches and improving memory. It is a strong, pungent herb, and a few leaves add a distinctive flavor to breads, poultry and vegetables. It becomes bushy and shrub-like in a few years. Hardy in Zones 4-8.

Thyme - perennial - common thyme grows up to a foot tall and spreads wider. A fragrant, dense, low-growing groundcover with tiny flowers that can carpet a garden or accent pathways and rock gardens. French thyme has the best flavor for meats and vegetables. It has a distinctive, spicy scent and can be used as a salad garnish or to flavor cooked vegetables. Lemon thyme is a branchy trailing plant that forms mats of aromatic, lemon-scented foliage. Hardy in Zones 5-9.

Basil - annual - varieties of the spicy-sweet popular herb range from cinnamon to Thai sweet. Sweet basil is enjoyed for its mild peppery flavor, with a hint of mint and clove. A staple in Italian, Mediterranean and Thai cooking, basil can also be used in flower gardens, as border plants and in hanging baskets. 'Purple Ruffles' is a good selection if you want purple foliage with lots of texture; 'Dani', if you want lemon-scented basil.

Chives - perennial - chives have a mild onion flavor that enhances salads, egg dishes, soups and vegetables. Although garlic is the Herb of the Year, many growers favor milder garlic chives because it's a "no fuss, no muss" perennial. Snip chive leaves into salads, soups, pasta, chicken and fish. The clover-like purple flowers that bloom in spring are also edible and make a colorful addition to salads. Hardy in Zones 3-9.

Dill - annual - often associated with pickling cucumbers, is delicious with salmon or potatoes.

Oregano - perennial - is one of the several species of wild marjoram that can grow up to two feet tall. Peppery-flavored Greek oregano is used in tomato sauces and to season meats and vegetables. Creeping oregano works well in a pathway or rock garden. Cuban oregano has varigated leaves that have a fuzzy texture, similar to the leaves of an African Violet. Hardy in Zones 5-9.

Mint - perennial - the fresh smell and taste of old-fashioned mint can't be beat in an herb garden. Mints are a family of plants known for their aromatic oils. A few leaves adds refreshing zest to a glass of lemonade or iced tea. The many varieties include candy mint, chocolate mint, orange mint and peppermint. Spearmint is ideal for tea, mint jelly and mint juleps. But be sure to contain mint or it will spread. Hardy in Zones 4-10.

Now we need to plant them.

Follow these planting guidelines for a successful herb garden:

Plant early in the morning or late in the afternoon to prevent the transplants from wilting in the midday sun.

Dig each planting hole to about twice the width of the root ball of the new plant .

Space herbs about 18 inches apart to give them room to spread out and grow.

Place taller herbs, like sage, rosemary and marjoram, towards the back of the garden. Parsley and cilantro are good for the front.

For accents of color in your herb garden, add flowering plants like zinnias and salvia.

Plant perennials on one side and annuals on the other for easier replanting next year.

Give the new transplants plenty of water. Once established, make sure your herbs get an inch of water each week throughout the growing season.

Begin harvesting from the herbs as soon as they are mature, but take only a little bit each time you harvest. If you remove more than a third of the plant at one time , it takes longer to recover and produce new foliage.

To promote branching, keep the tops of the plants pinched back in early summer . With frequent picking, most herbs can be harvested for several months.

After all the work of planting is done, the best part is enjoying them. Here are some simple recipes to get you started. Some of the herbs used are different than the ones you may already know.

Herb Sugar
This is a wonderful use for sweet herbs such as lemon verbena, rose geranium, lavender or mints. Makes about 2 cups.

1/4 cup leaves and flowers of sweet herbs
2 cups sugar
zest of 1 citrus fruit - cut in strips (optional)

Gently bruise the herbs with a mortar to bring out their aromatic oils, then mix them with the sugar and citrus zest. Put the herbs and sugar in a jar and cover tightly. For the next two weeks, give the sugar a shake or stir every few days to spread the aromatic oils around and to break up any clumps. After 2 weeks, the sugar will be infused with the herb's flavor. Strain the sugar, discard the herbs and zest, and store, tightly covered.

New Potatoes with Butter and Herbs
Wonderful way to use fresh potatoes and your favorite herbs. Makes 6 servings.

2 pounds small potatoes
2 cups sea salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup finely chopped mixed herbs: marjoram, chives, lemon basil, etc.
freshly ground pepper

Scrub the potatoes, but don't peel them. Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil with the salt. Stir to dissolve the salt, then add the potatoes. Boil over medium heat until the potatoes are fork-tender, 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the size of the potatoes. Drain the potatoes, then toss them in a bowl with the butter and herbs. Season with pepper and serve.

Red and Golden Beets with Dill
Baby golden beets mixed with the snap of fresh dill makes this dish a wonderful side. Can be served room temperature or well chilled.

2 Large red beets
20 golden or Chioggia beets
2 small red onions
3 tablespoons of champagne or white wine vinegar
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
10 leafy flat-leafed parsley or cilantro sprigs
1 tablespoon of chopped dill leaves

Stem the large beets until tender-firm when pierced with a knife, about 35 minute. Steam the little beets until tender-firm, about 20 minutes. Peel and trim the red beets. Cut them into halves and quarters. Skin the small beets and trim, if necessary. Leave them whole. Peel, then thinly slice the onions into rounds, toss with the vinegar, sprinkle with salt. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes.

The beets can be thinly sliced and placed with marinated onions on top of fresh salad greens, dressed in vinegar and oil, garnish with parsley. They are also very tasty served as a vegetable side.

Plant a kitchen herb garden. It will bring you many hours of enjoyment both by the beauty of the plants themselves and the wonderful tastes it can bring to your cooking.

About the Author:
Dori Fritzinger is a freelance writer who writes from her family owned farm, located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. When not busy tending to her family, farm, gardens - she enjoys writing about garden produce, herbs, berries, and the interaction of the family in the garden. She has studied both culinary and medicinal herbs and gardening for most her adult life. Now that her children are grown and she is a grandmother, she has more time to devote to her writing. Vist her website.