The pattern of a stream and it’s sediment. In accounting, the journal and the balance sheet. Events flow in the journal, but they consolidate in the balance sheet. The balance sheet represents a point in time picture of something. The journal represents the constant flow of events, each one altering—to a higher or lesser degree—the balance.
This pattern is relevant in note taking, as I see a stream of notes coming in and out, and my understanding of the world gets changed. But, at any point in time, I could draw a picture of what that understanding is.
Notes captured are events in the journal. My own writing and publishing activity, my balance sheet at the point of writing.