Lightened Up New England Clam Chowder

Name: Lightened Up New England Clam Chowder
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon light butter; 3 ribs of celery; 1/2 cup diced white onion; 2 garlic cloves; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon crushed white pepper or black pepper; 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning; 1 teaspoon fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried; 1 tablespoon flour; 8 ounce bottle of clam juice; 2 cups milk of choice, we used fat-free milk; 6.5 ounce can of clams; 1.5 pounds baby Yukon Gold potatoes; 1 bay leaf; 1 tablespoon fresh flat-leaf parsley (chopped)