Hello Midwest and Beyond,  I am Dawn, and I am just a little "Ray of Oat & Coffee Sunshine" with a side of Toast. I am the coffee connoisseur, the-momma-the wife- the grandma & dreamer for this family coffee & toast with a side of Oats business!  I absolutely love all things coffee, art, scooters & community. I fell in love with coffee houses in 1997, when I walked into this quaint house in Richmond, IN that was converted into serving coffee and was known as, Java Jazz. 

Haul'N Oats is a dream that came true in 2022. I am a former educator & now retired.  I had a dream of owning and running my own coffee house with people I love who inspire me (my family being the biggest supporters).  Coffee is the backbone and we love making it fancy with a hint of tradition.

After almost 4 years in our brick and mortar, we closed the shop doors to experience a bit more down time. But the dream still lives on and so, we are bringing our tasty baked items and coffees back as our new "Porch Pickup" venture.  Coffee and community - it's what we are!

I have always been interested in food. I loved going out to eat as a kid and was willing to try most anything whether it was my grandma's pickled beets or a sardine sandwich. I probably wasn't normal, but that is ok. This spirit is still with me today. I knew from an early age how food is one of the treasures in life.

I didn't start exploring the culinary arts myself until my twenties. At that point in my life, I found myself collecting recipes and cookbooks. I tried making Thai soup and a tasty chicken potpie. My spice cabinet started filling up. I also became somewhat obsessed with The Food Network and famous chefs. Although I knew I would never be an Iron Chef, I respected and was impressed by the knowledge and skill these people had. They put so much thought into their art, and I appreciated that. In my little world of Muncie, IN,  I was completely satisfied with the praise I would get from cooking a really good dinner for my family or the sense of accomplishment I felt when people raved about a dish I made at a carry-in. 

Today, I find myself absorbed in researching the health benefits of food and incorporating this knowledge into the ingredients and methods I use in the kitchen. Honestly, my idea of a fun day is a trip to a specialty grocery store. Food is a subject that keeps giving. There is so much to know, and, in my mind, there is nothing like eating something that is not only delicious but also good for you. 

I'll be working on new ideas for our sweet specialty coffee and porch-pickups, teaching English in my small midwest town, and raising my foodie son, Jasper. Eat and drink well, and be well!