Interview by Abernathy Cochran intern and Gainesville High School senior Donangelo Marshall
Meet Kathy Wedegis! Kathy is the owner of The Colored Egg in Gainesville, a wife and mother.
The Colored Egg specializes freshly baked goods, pastries, sweets, breakfast, quiche and more. The name of the bakery was inspired by Kathy’s love of Aracuana chickens. Aracuana chickens lay colored eggs and Kathy raises them on her farm.
We want to thank Kathy for taking time with us recently to tell us more about her life and love of Hall County.
The Colored Egg is located on 2480 Limestone Parkway in Gainesville.
Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
A: “I am from New York originally, I’ve been down here 23 years. I love Gainesville, they welcomed me with open arms; my mom had a bakery and she always baked. I went to CIA in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. for bread and chocolate. I like to bake at home; mostly quiche.”
Q: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
A: “It was a friend’s idea to open a bakery…our kids were graduating and going to college and I was ready for a change. I was doing Human Resources for Land O’Lakes Purina Mills for years so it was a good change…and that was 10 and a half years ago. I love people and the people of Gainesville kept me going and I’ve been very lucky.”
Q: What is your favorite restaurants in Hall County and what do you love there?
A: “We don’t eat out a lot because I get home so tired every night, but I like ChopBlock and I’ve been there few times. And I don’t like chain restaurants.”
Q: How long have you lived or worked in Hall County?
A: “23 years.”
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in Hall County?
A: “ George Jones I will have to say. He was a gentleman that came in to my bakery the first week I was open…he came in and gave a co-worker $100 bill and told her to fill a box and he was going to take it over to United Community Bank. He’s been doing that for the last 11 years. Now, he’s one of my best friends but he’s just a great man.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
A: “I’ve always wanted to go to Italy. I’m not a big traveler, I’ve lived on a farm and I love my farm.”
Q: What is your favorite movie or the first movie you remember seeing in a theater?
A: “I think ‘Steel Magnolias,’ it’s about a group of women and one of them is dying.”
Q: What advice would you give to a crowd of people?
A: “Don’t judge and just do your own thing. Everyone is different, everybody has their own what works for them and if you have to be judgmental about it then stay home.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “Go to Italy. Also Ireland, my daughter spent a year at the University of Limerick and I never went over there when she was there and I regret that, it was like a beautiful country and she loved it.”
Q: What is your favorite music or 3 bands that you would like to see (dead or alive)?
A: “I love music, I listen to 50s old music all the time, I like classical. And Dean Martin is my favorite.”
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about Hall County?
A: “Probably 2 Dog because I remember them when they were on the Square when I first moved here.”
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
A: “Dr. Burd, I’m talking about Dr. Pat Burd, the wife. Dr. Burd who was the President of Brenau and Burd Center was named after him. I delivered a lot of quiche to them, they’re really nice people, I never had a chance to sit down and talk to them.”
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about Hall County?
A: “The people…everybody seems really nice even if they’re having a bad day.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in five to 10 years?
A: “Italy. I want to go there and if I’m still healthy enough I wanna work in a vineyard and in the kitchen.”
Q: What thee words or phrases comes to mind when you hear the word “HOME”?
A: “Farm, Land and Family.”
Q: If you are to cast into a major motion picture and had you choice anyone to be your co-star, who would you choose? And why?
A: “Drew Barrymore. She just seems really easy.”
