Q. While traveling through mountain counties this weekend, we noticed several big barns with what looked like a quilt-block pattern on the end of each barn. We were wondering what exactly this meant and if you might have the answer. We have been seeing these for a couple of years. -- J.S.
A. The barns you saw are part of the Appalachian Quilt Trail, which winds through eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina. As the Quilt Trails of Western North Carolina Web site says, "This series of scenic driving trails takes the traveler to view vividly painted quilt squares installed on the barns and buildings of participating communities."
The painted blocks are typically 8 square feet and depict traditional quilting patterns, according to a story on the project by Winston-Salem Journal reporter Monte Mitchell, published May 27, 2007. The idea for barn-quilt trails originated in Ohio in 2001 and expanded into North Carolina in 2005.
The North Carolina counties currently participating in the quilt trail are Ashe, Avery, Madison, Mitchell, Watauga and Yancey.
More information about Quilt Trail sites in North Carolina, including maps to the quilt squares, is available online at www.quilttrailswnc.org.
Q. Can you please tell me where the name for "Nabs" came from? Seems we use this slang for the peanut butter-filled crackers, but nowhere on the packs or boxes does the word "nab" exist. -- P.B.
A. Southerners planning to drive along the Quilt Trail may very likely carry along a "Co'Cola" and a pack of Nabs to eat along the way. Some people use the term to refer specifically to peanut butter-sandwich crackers, but many others use it for any type of packaged snack crackers with a peanut butter or cheese filling.
Snack-size packages of crackers were made by the National Biscuit Co. -- later Nabisco -- back in the 1920s. In 1928, the company started calling them Nabs. Though that product is gone, the name lives on.
Many of the snack crackers called Nabs today are made not by Nabisco, but by Lance Inc. of Charlotte.
Q. What are the current plans for the campgrounds at Tanglewood Park? Is there a timetable for their reopening? -- J.A.
A. The campgrounds are in the final development stages, and are expected to be open in the next one to two years.
"We have reviewed all of our proposals and have met with an architect with whom we are currently negotiating," said Kelli Reich, a spokesperson for the park.
"The bathhouses are expected to be overhauled, because the plumbing and wiring was from the 1950s."
The grounds, which will continue to be behind the soccer fields near the park entrance on Harper Road, will be mostly for RV-type camping, as opposed to tent camping, once the overhaul is complete.
Originally, $2 million was budgeted for a grander campground plan, but $1.7 million of that money has since been moved to the school system to help pay for pod leases.
Pods are those temporary buildings that are installed at a school to serve as classrooms.
"We hope to still be able to improve the overall condition of the grounds," said Damon Sanders-Pratt, the Forsyth County deputy manager.
SAM was wrong
Yesterday's SAM gave the wrong day for the groundbreaking and birthday celebration at the Ronald McDonald House. It will take place at 3 p.m this Sunday. The house is at 419 S. Hawthorne Road.
■ E-mail: AskSAM@wsjournal.com.
■ Online: www.journalnow.com/asksam
■ Write: Ask SAM, P.O. Box 3159, Winston-Salem, NC 27102.
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