ham chowder

Ingredients

• 2 slices bacon
• 6 tablespoons butter, divided
• 1 large sweet onion, diced
• 1 -2 clove garlic, finely minced
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 1 large carrot, peeled and diced
• 1 large Yukon gold potato, peeled, diced, and boiled
• 4 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups 2 % milk
• 1 1/2 cups cream or half and half
• 1/2 cup frozen young peas
• 1/2 cup corn nibblets, frozen
• 2 cups ham, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, optional
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground white or black pepper
• 1 - 1 1/2 cups water, to thin out soup