Back when I lived in Pennsylvania, there was this bar that had a giant Jenga set out for patrons to play. I thought it was the coolest thing ever and figured it looked easy enough to make so I did just that – I went to Home Depot one night, bought all the wood, convinced some kid working to do all the cuts for free, then brought it to my apartment and spent all of my free time the next two weeks hand sanding the pieces on my porch while watching Netflix. I painted the ends gray, coral, and blue to match the decor on my porch (and the building itself). I left it set up outside all summer and by some miracle, nobody stole any pieces! It made a few trips that very first summer including to a vacation in the Poconos with my college friends and on a camping trip for work. I was using my largest duffel bag as a carrying case but last summer I ordered a case just for the Jenga – perfect timing since I had a two week road trip just a few months later!
Fast forward a few years – Julie and Jeff were getting married and Julie kept dropping hints that a giant Jenga set would be the perfect gift. Now, I love my Jenga and I had fun making it but there was no way that I was going to have it done before her bridal shower. Luckily by then I had met James and he had a power sander – we were able to get it done IN ONE AFTERNOON. I ordered her a carrying case when I ordered mine so I had it embroidered with their last name and wedding date.
And now fast forward one more year! Maranda’s friend Tiffany asked for a giant Jenga set as well so Maranda recruited James into making it. Maranda isn’t leaving for China for a few more weeks but her last day of work here was earlier this month so her and James took a day to make the Jenga set. James got fancy this time around – he wood burned a monogram onto each block and then MADE carrying crate out of wood and wood burned their last name onto the crate! Maranda said that Tiffany and her husband LOVED it.
So yeah, if anybody local wants a giant Jenga set, I know a GREAT builder.
Until our next adventure!
The Harkin Chronicles 