Joe Sommer has never bought a jigsaw puzzle, yet he has nearly 200 of them finished and on display in the basement of his home.

B次元官网网址淭hey just come and I do them,B次元官网网址� the 89-year-old Chilliwack man said frankly.

For more than 55 years, friends and family members have been sending him puzzles as gifts.

He moved to Chilliwack back in 1966 with his with Ruth. He was a dairy farmer for 41 years.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 come in from farming and put a few pieces in before breakfast, and after breakfast some more. And when I had time, IB次元官网网址檇 milk the cows,B次元官网网址� he said with a laugh.

Rather than disassemble a puzzle when itB次元官网网址檚 done, he mounts them on wood.

When one is complete, he puts a layer of glue on top so it doesnB次元官网网址檛 come apart. Once thatB次元官网网址檚 dry, he glues the puzzle to a five-eighths-inch piece of plywood and places books on top to press it down.

TheyB次元官网网址檙e all on display along rows of shelves filling the walls of his basement B次元官网网址� all 190 of them.

B次元官网网址淪omebody said if you donB次元官网网址檛 have patience, donB次元官网网址檛 get (puzzles). And I can always use a little more patience.B次元官网网址�

Why not take the puzzle apart and put it away so it can be done again later?

B次元官网网址淚 thought well if I do the work, fine, and then if I can display it, why not?B次元官网网址�

Joe has puzzles of barns, cityscapes, animals, nature and famous landmarks. He has 3D puzzles, ones shaped like animals, and some that have features that would turn many people away.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e got puzzles that have no border with five extra pieces just to trick youB次元官网网址� yeah, itB次元官网网址檚 a challenge.B次元官网网址�

He recalls the first three he was sent: a pianist, then a ballerina, and then a watch puzzle. Most are 1,000-piece puzzles, but some have 2,500 pieces or more.

ThereB次元官网网址檚 one called B次元官网网址楻ed MenaceB次元官网网址� which is a completely red, circular puzzle B次元官网网址� that was one of the most difficult ones.

Joe has a strategy for piecing them together. Typically there are three or four different shapes of pieces which he separates.

B次元官网网址淚 put one shape in one box, one in another. It makes it a lot easier.B次元官网网址�

He figures it takes him about two hours to separate the pieces for a 1,000-piece puzzle, but he says itB次元官网网址檚 worth it.

Over the 57 or so years heB次元官网网址檚 been putting together jigsaw puzzles, only once was he given one that he already had.

B次元官网网址淎 friend of ours, she gave me a box of five I think, and when this one was half-done I discovered B次元官网网址極h, I already did that one.B次元官网网址� So I thought B次元官网网址楩orget it, IB次元官网网址檒l finish it off rather than throw it away.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

He has no preference for the puzzle size or picture and said he simply does whatever is given to him. But with nearly every wall of his basement covered in puzzles, heB次元官网网址檚 running out of room.

B次元官网网址淚 told them to stop, I donB次元官网网址檛 have any more space to put them.B次元官网网址�

But his friends wonB次元官网网址檛 listen.

B次元官网网址淚 just got one the other day for my birthday,B次元官网网址� he said.

Ask him when his birthday is and he says B次元官网网址�1-2-3-4.B次元官网网址� ThatB次元官网网址檚 Jan. 2, 1934.

Joe admits heB次元官网网址檚 slowing down and his eyesight isnB次元官网网址檛 what it once was, but heB次元官网网址檚 still doing them because people are still sending them to him.

B次元官网网址淪omebody said B次元官网网址榃hat are you going to do (with the puzzles) when you move on?B次元官网网址� I said B次元官网网址業 have nothing to worry about,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� he said with a laugh.

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