Potato Bacon Soup

What is better after a long day... on a chilly Fall evening, than a warm bowl of comforting soup?! This is being added as another one of my crock pot favorites.

8 potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 sm. onion, chopped
6 t. chicken bouillon granules
6 c. water
2 t. garlic powder
1 c. crumbled bacon
3 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 c. butter
10 T. flour

Place potatoes, onion, bouillon, water, and garlic powder in crock pot.
Cover and cook on low for 5-7 hours, or on high for 3 hours... until potatoes are tender.
Right before serving... make a roux: melt butter over medium low heat in a skillet. Add flour, one tablespoon at a time. {I usually measure 10 tablespoons of flour into a bowl and then add it one tablespoon at a time until it's all gone... this way I don't lose count!} Stir constantly with a whisk. Slowly stir in 1 ladle full of hot liquid from the soup. Add another 3 ladles of soup liquid and stir until smooth. Add all back into the crock pot and stir well.
Slowly stir in the cheese, a little at a time, so it doesn't clump. Add in the bacon.
Salt and pepper to taste.