Creamy Root Vegetable Soup

Name: Creamy Root Vegetable Soup
Ingredients: 2 strips bacon (raw, cut into a medium dice); 1 medium carrot (peeled & diced small, about ~1/4-inch); 1 stalk celery (diced small, about ~1/4-inch); 1/2 small onion (peeled & diced small, about ~1/4-inch); 4 cloves garlic (minced); 2 lbs mixed root vegetables (peeled & roughly diced into ~½-inch pieces; see note below); 4 cups chicken or vegetable stock; 1 tsp dried thyme; 4 tbsp butter; ¼ cup all-purpose flour; ½ cup half & half; 2 scallions (sliced for garnish); salt & pepper (to taste)