How about something like this:
An app with a tray icon. Right-click the tray icon for "new note" or "see past notes" or "search past notes".
You select "new note", an edit box comes up where you type and submit, and the text gets saved.
You select "see past notes" and the past notes get presented (not sure how yet).
You select "search past notes" and a dialog comes up, so that you can type search expression. You press enter and notes are displayed.