I think that Ellie sifting for gold, because the bowl looks like something that you would sift with. And, I think that she might be in the west, around California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, the areas in the rocky mountians that have a lot of gold mines. And gold mines have a lot of gold. I think that because the east doesn't have gold, the east has coal.
Mr. Miller
Science in 6th & 7th Grade – Office Hours: Wednesdays 7:25 to 7:55 AM
I'm not sure that she is painting because if she was painting the plate, why would she be washing it?
I notice Ellie's holding a plate inside a pot and there is something inside the pot and on the plate. I think she might be painting the plate, because it looks like there is paint inside the pot and splattered on the plate. I also wonder if she was doing it as a fundraiser or just for fun. I also agree with you that she probably might have been traveling when she was painting.
Do you think that she washing the bowl? How much paint do you think there was?