Creation of a simple web site --- how to get started?

Question

First, I have recently purchased CS5, which is a very nice bundle of fantastic software. However, the thought of mastering all of these packages is mind-boggling. I started by jumping around between different packages, looking at tutorial material, examples, etc. which was quite helpful for getting an overview of how some of them worked and how I might use them. Presently, I have two main objectives --- 1) use Photoshop for doing some painting of images, and 2) use Dreamweaver to build a web site for a friend who offers a place of refuge for homeless cats. I initially thought it might be good to start with the painting project, however, I have changed my plan, and would like to pursue the design of a web page that can be used to help people to find a cat that they can adopt. Note, this is a non-profit application, but one that I believe to be quite important. Here are some of my initial thoughts on this site:
Site purpose:
To provide a web site for anyone to look at information on cats at this home, and how they
can adopt one of them.
Some features of the site:
1. A cat database that I as the designer would create. This database would contain
    an entry for each cat available for adoption. It would include such things as
    the name, sex, age, paths to image(s) and/or video(s) of the cat, health status, etc.
    Anyone accessing this site should be able to easily navigate around it and to examine
    entries in this database. The client (designated person at the home offering cats
    for adoption) would be given privledges to modify the database (add, delete, and modify
    entries). The user interface for the client to update the database should be very easy
    to use.
2. A simple form that could be used for information on someone that would like to adopt
    one of the cats in the database or to make an appointment to go to the location where
    the cat is being kept (for actual contact with the cat).
3. Track number of visitors to the site
Preliminary notes on the database
Fields:
- ID code (key) % Default: yymmddhrmnName (year-month-day-hr-min-Name)
- Name
- Sex (M / F)
- Neutered / Not neutered
- Age (estimated)
- Type (breed)
- Tagged (chip or ear marking)/ Not tagged
- Checked In date (yy/mm/dd)
- Checked Out date (yy/mm/dd)
- Status (needs home / has home)
- Social state (1,2,3,4,5)
- Health state (1,2,3,4,5)
- Companion state (1,2,3,4,5)
- Image (file name) % multiple files allowed
- Video (file name) % multiple files allowed
- Medical/vet data (e.g. vaccinations, etc.)
- General information (text on cat that includes comments, observations, etc.)
Notes:
  * state = 1, Best
                5, Worst
  Examples:
          Social state = 5, very unfriendly, afraid, etc.
                               3, can touch if careful
                               1, very friendly, unafraid
          Health state = 5, not in good health (e.g. infection)
                               3, only minor health problems
                               1, in very good health
   Companion state = 5, must have another cat or cats as company
                               3, could be with other cat(s) company
                               1, does not need the company of another cat
Now, with this initial information (granted this is very rough), my question:
How, armed with CS5, should I attack the problem of getting this web site up and running?
Keeping in mind that I really would like to learn how to use CS5, and that this would be my first web site project.
Any suggestions, study plan, references, etc. would be welcomed.
Message was edited by: Birdy40 because of some small errors and changes.

Answer 1

In keeping with bregent's admonition - it will invariably turn out more complicated than you imagined, if only because the more you do with this the more you will think of to do. In addition to the excellent suggestions of David Power's books and w3schools, I would offer one other bit of advice: Simplify. Make  your initial project the simplest possible, and then gradually adding more and more features. That will make it easier for you - and this forum - to help along the way.
Perhaps as a first step, create a database with a few entries and then write code to retrieve the data.Even there you may find fields will need to be adjusted, added or removed or even redefined. Try all sorts of queries. Eventually you can create pages that will allow the input to be done with a form.
Good luck with the project./
Barry