Ham and Bean soup

This reminds me of winter and being inside during the holidays.

2 cups Great Northern Beans
1 lb ham with bone
2 quarts water
2 teaspoons salt
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2 whole onions- chopped
1 garlic clove
3 whole potatoes cut 1" thick
1 tablespoon parsley
3 large carrots cut 1"thick
3 stalks celery cut 1" thick
1 teaspoon paprika

***You can skip the cooking beans part if you just buy the beans in a can.
*** You can also get a ham bone at the butcher block and use a boneless ham for the meat.

Cover beans with water and bring to boil. Let them sit for 1 hour and then drain.
Add 2 quarts water, salt, and ham. Let them simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Remove ham bone and cut off meat- shred it or dice it, return meat to soup.
Saute onion and garlic in olive oil- then add to soup
Stir in the rest of ingredients
Simmer until vegetables are to desired softness
add pepper to taste