Hearty Homemade Corn Chowder

Name: Hearty Homemade Corn Chowder
Ingredients: 8 slices bacon (diced); 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; 1 medium yellow onion (diced); ¼ cup all-purpose flour; 2 cloves garlic (minced); 5 cups water (or substitute chicken broth or vegetable broth); 8 ears of fresh yellow sweet corn (cleaned of husks and silk.); 1 lb. Yukon gold or baby red potatoes (sliced into ½-inch pieces); ¼ teaspoon dried thyme; ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika; Salt and black pepper (to taste); 1 cup of half-and-half or heavy whipping cream.; Handful of chopped fresh chives (for garnish)