Cream of Baked Potato Soup (T&T)

This delicious soup is very hearty and a meal in itself. The flavors of the ingredients are just out of this world. I have been making this soup for a long time, and it is one of our favorites. Have a nice light sour dough bread heated to serve with this wonderful and flavorful soup.

1 tablespoon sweet butter
1/2 cup diced uncooked bacon
1 cup chopped onion
1 4/ cup chopped celery
8 to 10 ounces diced cooked sausage or ham
4 cups chicken broth
5 baking potatoes with skins on, washed and dried
    (I have used the red potatoes with great success).
2 whole carrots, peeled
2 cups heavy cream or evaporated milk
1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Fresh parsley sprigs or chopped fresh chives for garnishing
    (fresh chopped chives gives this soup a wonderful flavor)
Shredded cheddar cheese for topping, optional

Melt butter in a medium to large stock pot over medium/high heat. Add bacon and onion saut