By LISA BRITTON

Of the Baker City Herald

The Easter Bunny was here this week.

She was a bit early, yes, but Sydnie Fansler wasn’t delivering eggs and stuffed bunnies this time she was bringing crafts to the younger and older residents in Baker City.

Fansler, who grew up in Baker City and now lives in Indiana, has made it her goal to supply enough plastic eggs for the annual Easter Egg Hunt each spring.

She scours post-holiday sales in search of big eggs, little eggs, baskets and bunnies.

Thus, the Easter Bunny.

She’s already sent enough to supply next year’s hunt.

But this week found her at three local nursing homes Settler’s Park, St. Elizabeth Care Center and Meadowbrook where she taught residents how to make a simplified windsock to hang in their rooms.

Fansler and her husband own property in Stices Gulch, and each time they return to Baker City she makes time to share a craft with the nursing home residents.

andquot;They really enjoy it when they have someone come make something special with them,andquot; said Beverly Jenkins, a volunteer at St. Elizabeth’s.

It’s hard to tell who enjoyed it more the residents or Fansler.

andquot;Older people and young people have a special place in my heart,andquot; Fansler said as she helped glue foam insects onto the windsocks.

This Saturday she will attend to the younger population of Baker City as she instructs a basket-weaving class at the Baker County Library.

The free class begins at 10 a.m.

There’s no registration necessary, and parents are encouraged to join the children.

She said she brought 120 kits with her for the class participants to make their own small baskets.

andquot;This is a real simple basket,andquot; she said. andquot;I haven’t seen much basketweaving here. Back in Indiana it’s really big.andquot;

She’s been weaving baskets herself for about nine years. Saturday’s project will be a small, round candy-dish sized basket, she said.

For more information, call 523-6419.